The Taliban is holding talks with Russia to explore connecting Afghanistan’s banking system to Russia’s Mir payment network, the Taliban’s ambassador to Moscow, Gul Hassan, said on Sunday.
Hassan told the Russian newspaper Izvestia that discussions are under way on allowing the use of Russia’s Mir bank cards in Afghanistan, with initial steps already taken toward implementation. He said the move would help expand trade and financial cooperation between the two countries.
The Mir payment network, developed by Russia’s central bank as an alternative to Western systems such as Visa and Mastercard, aims to facilitate financial transactions amid international sanctions.
According to Izvestia, one of the main challenges to launching the system in Afghanistan is the country’s shortage of ATMs and banking infrastructure.
Hassan said the Taliban needs unrestricted financial transactions to strengthen trade ties with Russia and attract Russian tourists to Afghanistan. He added that the project would mark an important step toward easing the Taliban government’s financial isolation.
Iran, which is also under Western sanctions, signed an agreement in 2024 to integrate with Russia’s Mir system.
Russia remains the only country to have formally recognised the Taliban.
