Kazakh PM Signals Willingness To Invest In Torghundi–Herat Railway At ECO Summit

Addressing the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit, Erdogan also renewed his criticism of what he described as Israel’s increasingly “aggressive policies,” warning that they threaten regional stability.

“We can neither abandon the Palestinian cause nor remain silent while the Netanyahu government turns our region into a bloodbath,” he told assembled leaders.

The summit, held in the Azerbaijani city of Khankendi, gathered the presidents of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, along with Pakistan’s prime minister. Climate-change cooperation topped the agenda.

Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy prime minister for economic affairs in Afghanistan’s Taliban administration, attended the meeting, marking the first high-level Taliban representation at an ECO summit in four years.

In a statement issued Friday, the governor’s office confirmed that Nabizada had returned at the invitation of Governor Wafa.

Nabizada had been living in Russia for the past two years. His return comes just days after Moscow officially recognised the Taliban as the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” and raised the group’s flag over the Afghan embassy in the Russian capital.

In 2022, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned Nabizada as part of a network accused of oil smuggling and money laundering on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force.

In a recent interview with Afghanistan International, Nabizada denied the allegations, claiming the sanctions were politically motivated. “The United States imposed sanctions on me, along with hundreds of other businessmen, to pressure Russia,” he said.

Speaking at a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated, “We have taken note of Russia’s decision. Russia-Afghanistan relations are a matter between two sovereign nations.”

Khan added that Russia has legitimate security interests in the region and underscored Pakistan’s ongoing engagement with Moscow.

“Pakistan enjoys very warm and cordial relations with Russia,” he said. “Both countries are maintaining a positive trajectory and are working to further expand their bilateral cooperation.”

Pakistan has not formally recognised the Taliban administration, though it maintains diplomatic ties and continues to engage with Taliban authorities on security and regional connectivity issues.

Jamshidi reported that approximately 38000 Afghans are leaving the country daily through Dogharoun, with the number expected to rise further as Iran’s 6 July deadline for undocumented migrants approaches.

“Our assessments indicate that among those who have left via Dogharoun, only 20 percent held valid passports or legal documents,” Jamshidi said. “The remaining 80 percent were residing in Iran without authorisation.”

The Iranian government has intensified deportation measures in recent months, drawing concern from rights groups and Afghan civil society organisations. Many Afghan migrants cite deteriorating conditions under Taliban rule as the reason for seeking refuge in Iran.

Speaking at the 17th ECO Summit on Friday, 5 July, Baradar called on member states to recognise the “political reality of Afghanistan” and to follow Russia’s lead in recognising the Taliban government.

Baradar urged ECO countries to strengthen cooperation with Afghanistan in trade, investment, energy, transportation, agriculture, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation. “The economies of ECO member countries can only reach optimal growth when Afghanistan is an active and dynamic part of the equation,” he said.

Meeting with Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister

On the sidelines of the summit, Baradar held talks with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan to discuss expanding political, economic, and trade relations. He described Kazakhstan as a key and reliable regional partner.

According to Taliban officials, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister pledged $500 million in investment for the Torghundi–Herat railway project and expressed interest in increasing fruit imports from Afghanistan and investing in the country’s mining sector.

ECO member states include Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

The Taliban’s growing engagement with ECO leaders follows Russia’s recent decision to formally recognise the Taliban government, signalling a broader push by the group for regional legitimacy and economic integration.