Yerkin Tukumov, Kazakhstan’s special envoy to Afghanistan discussed border security, combating drug trafficking and continuing cooperation on the construction of a railway via Turkmenistan in a meeting with Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.
Haqqani also called for regional cooperation with Kazakhstan.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, reported the meeting on his X account on Tuesday, 9 December.
According to Qani, Tukumov expressed support for expanding bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, deepening bilateral relations and backing key economic projects, including the railway.
Haqqani praised relations between the two countries, saying, “Afghanistan is on the path of peace, trade and progress, and expects goodwill and regional cooperation from Kazakhstan.”
Although Kazakhstan, like most countries, has not officially recognised the Taliban administration, it removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations in June 2024.
Kazakhstan has also maintained diplomatic and economic ties with the Taliban and previously accepted a Taliban diplomat as Afghanistan’s acting consul general in Astana.
