ISLAMABAD– Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, the highest-level visit by a foreign politician since the Taliban returned to power three years ago.
Aripov, who led a delegation, was greeted at Kabul airport by Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister, and other senior government officials, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a statement.
During his visit, he met with Taliban leaders and discussed bilateral relations and strengthening trade and business between the two countries, the statement said. Five trade and investment agreements were signed.
In addition, an exhibition of Uzbek products will be opened, the statement said.
At the beginning of the week, an Uzbek delegation met with representatives of the Ministry of Trade. On Friday, Afghan media reported that a trilateral meeting of the economic ministers of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan had taken place in Kabul to discuss expanding trade relations.
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan share a 144-kilometer-long border and recently the relationship between the two countries has improved.
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, when US and NATO troops withdrew from the country after 20 years of war. The world has not yet recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The international community is concerned about the harsh measures the Taliban have taken since taking power, particularly in restricting the rights of women and minorities.
