Turkey’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Cenk Ünal, met with Taliban’s Trade Minister, Nuruddin Azizi, on Sunday. According to a Taliban statement, Ambassador Ünal invited Azizi to attend the 5th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Trade Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled for November 24-26 in Turkey, and the Halal Expo 2025, which will be held in Istanbul from November 27-30, 2025.
Focus on Bilateral Trade and Foreign Investment
During the meeting, discussions centered on enhancing bilateral trade, facilitating transit, and attracting foreign investment to Afghanistan. The Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce confirmed the invitation in a press release on Sunday, October 13.
Taliban’s Push for ECO Summit in Kabul
The 17th ECO Summit of Heads of State was held on July 13 in Azerbaijan, where Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, delivered a speech. Baradar proposed hosting the 18th ECO Summit in Kabul, emphasizing the Taliban’s readiness to organize the event. ECO member countries include Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Taliban’s Limited Regional Recognition
Despite the invitation, the Taliban continues to face limited recognition in regional organizations. Last year’s ECO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Mashhad, Iran, excluded Taliban representatives, with Iranian officials citing the decision as coming from the ECO Secretariat.
Discover more from Kokcha News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
