Afghanistan will now export coal to Uzbekistan, not Pakistan. This was announced by the Taliban press secretary, Zabiullah Mujahid. According to him, a number of important trade agreements have been reached with Tashkent.
According to him, Uzbekistan will supply quality cement and medicines to Afghanistan. The closure of border posts with Pakistan and the halt in trade have prompted Kabul to expand economic cooperation with other countries in the region, including Iran and Uzbekistan.
Previously, the Taliban stated that Afghan agricultural products would be sent to the markets of Central Asia, South Asia, and Europe via Uzbekistan by air. The interim government also recommended that entrepreneurs find new routes for trade and transit.
Although the Taliban's finance ministry emphasized that the halt in trade with Pakistan has "had no negative impact," the media refutes this claim. The Dawn newspaper wrote that the border closure has caused $4.5 billion in damage to trade between the two countries.
Economist Reza Farzam also assessed the Taliban's statement as contrary to the truth, noting that Afghanistan does not have alternative routes to quickly replace its trade routes.
