Taliban, Tajik Officials Meet In Dushanbe To Discuss CASA-1000 Energy Project

The summit brings together representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, the Taliban, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and several other organisations. The gathering aims to review the current status of the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project, address challenges, explore solutions, and plan the next phases of implementation.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, 14 May, Breshna, the Taliban-controlled national electricity provider, confirmed that delegates will also visit the converter station located in the Sangtuda region of Tajikistan.

CASA-1000 is one of the largest regional electricity transmission initiatives, designed to export surplus power from Central Asia to South Asia through Afghanistan. Breshna stated that "this project not only enhances economic cooperation among member countries but also represents a significant step toward strengthening political ties and promoting sustainable regional development.”

Earlier this year, on 31 March, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov jointly inaugurated a cross-border power transmission line in Khujand, Sughd province of Tajikistan, as part of the CASA-1000 project.

In February 2024, the World Bank announced that construction of the CASA-1000 power line in Afghanistan would commence at the request of the participating countries, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. The World Bank emphasised that all financial transactions related to the project in Afghanistan would be managed externally and remain separate from the Taliban's control.

According to a statement issued by the Taliban Supreme Court on Wednesday, 14 May, the individuals received between 20 and 39 lashes each in a public setting. The punishment was carried out in the presence of local officials, court personnel, residents, and both civilian and military representatives.

Rohullah Ghalib, head of the Taliban’s primary court in Mohammad Agha, stated: “We implement divine rulings under all circumstances.” He emphasised that the Taliban would not retreat from what it views as its “religious responsibilities.”

The group regards corporal punishment, including flogging, as the enforcement of “Islamic Sharia” and has continued such practices despite widespread international condemnation.

Human rights organisations and foreign governments have repeatedly denounced the Taliban’s use of corporal punishment, describing it as a form of torture and a violation of international human rights norms.

Just a day earlier, a man in Badakhshan province was also publicly flogged after being accused of engaging in sexual relations outside of marriage.

Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban has resumed public punishments, including floggings and executions, which were also a hallmark of its previous regime in the 1990s.

They demanded urgent action on their resettlement cases. The demonstrations took place ahead of the Australian Prime Minister’s official visit to Indonesia, with protesters calling on Australia and other resettlement countries to accelerate the processing of refugee claims.

Many of the protesters, including women, men, and children, held signs and chanted slogans urging the international community to address their plight. The refugees say they have been living in limbo for more than a decade, facing prolonged uncertainty and hardship.

“We have waited over ten years for resettlement. We are living without basic rights and with no future,” said one protestor.

The refugees expressed hope that their peaceful protest would attract the attention of Australian officials and lead to tangible progress in their cases.

Afghan refugees in Indonesia have previously staged similar demonstrations, criticising the UNHCR for what they describe as neglect and a lack of transparency in the resettlement process.

Indonesia, which is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, hosts thousands of asylum seekers, many of them Afghans, who await third-country resettlement with limited rights and access to services.

According to a statement from Baradar’s office, the delegation is scheduled to attend various sessions of the forum and hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event.

The forum, which commenced on Tuesday, will run through Sunday, in the city of Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan.

Baradar’s participation comes shortly after Russia suspended its designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organisation, a move that signals a shift in Moscow’s engagement with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Rustam Khabibullin, head of the Russian Business Centre in Afghanistan, noted that Baradar is the most senior Taliban official to visit Russia since the group took control of Afghanistan in 2021.

The official Kazan Forum website stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in the forum’s continued role as a platform for constructive dialogue and enhanced cooperation among participating countries and peoples.

The Kazan Forum, a major international economic platform, focuses on strengthening economic relations between Russia and member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), with a growing emphasis on investment and development partnerships.

Alireza Bikdeli, Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, emphasised that Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources offer valuable opportunities for bilateral cooperation. The reported investment is expected to significantly enhance Iran’s global position in steel production.

According to Fars, Iran’s growing demand for raw materials, particularly in its mining industries, combined with the potential for up to sixfold added value, makes Afghanistan an attractive source. Iran currently imports Afghan iron ore at approximately $100 per tonne and exports the processed steel at around $600 per tonne, highlighting the profitability of the venture.

Data from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines indicates that Iran has already invested $2.3 billion in the Afghan mining sector in recent years, including iron ore extraction. The current agreement outlines a five-year cooperation plan, projected to generate $1.2 billion in annual revenue for Iran.

Another Iranian outlet reported that Iran’s access to low-cost Afghan raw materials will increase its share of steel production in Asia by 20 percent, potentially elevating its global ranking from tenth to sixth place.

Alongside Russia and China, Iran has emerged as one of the leading foreign stakeholders interested in Afghanistan’s mining sector.

Economic and diplomatic relations between Iran and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan have expanded significantly over the past three years. A decline in trade and transit with Pakistan, combined with Iran’s strategic efforts to strengthen ties with the Taliban, has pushed the annual bilateral trade volume to approximately $4 billion.

In line with this regional policy, Iran has authorised its border provinces to fully leverage their capacities to develop commercial and economic partnerships with adjacent Afghan provinces. The Islamic Republic has also cultivated strong relations with the Taliban leadership in Kandahar and announced plans to open a new consulate in Farah province, further signalling the growing importance of its engagement with Afghanistan under Taliban rule.