Taliban Deputy PM Meets US Special Envoy to Discuss Bilateral Relations and Economic Cooperation

KABUL (Kokcha.News) — Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, met with a US delegation led by Adam Boehler, the US President’s Special Envoy for Prisoner Affairs, at the Arg. The delegation also included Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, the region, and the world, as well as bilateral political and economic relations between Afghanistan and the United States.

Deputy PM Baradar highlighted the economic progress made under the Islamic Emirate, stating that the country’s economic situation, which had faced serious threats, is now improving. He noted that administrative corruption and the cultivation and trafficking of narcotics have been completely eradicated, unemployment has decreased, and the national currency has remained stable against foreign currencies.

Baradar also emphasized the development of the banking sector, the increase in exports and national revenues, the growth in domestic production, and the initiation of major projects. He acknowledged that progress in some areas has been hindered by economic sanctions imposed by the United States and the international community.

Baradar called on the US delegation to shift its approach from confrontation to engagement, urging the US to play a role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and invest in various sectors. He also mentioned the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee and a five-year national development strategy to facilitate investment opportunities for both domestic and foreign investors.

Adam Boehler expressed satisfaction with his visit to Afghanistan and commended the implementation of the Doha Agreement. He emphasized the importance of expanding relations and cooperation between the US and Afghanistan. Boehler also addressed the issue of prisoner exchanges, stating that both countries would exchange prisoners.

Boehler reaffirmed the US’s commitment to economic cooperation and expressed readiness to invest in Afghanistan alongside the private sector. He also praised the overall security situation in Afghanistan and the significant steps taken to curb the cultivation, production, and trafficking of narcotics.