Russia to send high-level delegation to Afghanistan for economic talks

A high-level Russian delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, is scheduled to visit Afghanistan to discuss trade and economic cooperation. Zamir Kabulov, the Special Representative for Afghanistan, reported that trade turnover between the two nations doubled during the first half of this year.

The strengthening ties appear to encompass both economic and security dimensions. Beyond trade, there are indications of a potential strategic alliance involving security cooperation, such as counter-terrorism efforts and drone warfare training, aimed at addressing the threat of ISIS-K in Central Asia.

Economically, Russia is showing significant interest in Afghanistan’s mining industry, which is valued at approximately one trillion dollars. Access to Afghanistan’s critical minerals is viewed as a strategic priority for Russia to support technological sectors including artificial intelligence, robotics, and data centers.