Afghanistan announced the signing of an agreement with Russia on oil supplies

Afghanistan will soon sign an agreement with Russia on the supply of oil and gas to Kabul, TOLOnews reports with reference to the Afghan Ministry of Trade and Industry.

It is noted that Afghanistan, in which representatives of the Taliban (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) came to power a year ago, imports most of its food and oil from Russia. The trade turnover between the two countries reaches $200 million a year.

Acting Minister of Trade and Industry Nooruddin Azizi, upon his return from Russia, said that most Afghan and Russian banks are under sanctions, so the transfer of money will take place through a third country. According to the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, due to sanctions, the volume of trade between Kabul and Moscow has decreased.

The publication also writes that Azizi met with the head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov during his visit. He was officially invited to visit Afghanistan. And about. The minister said that Russian representatives could pay a return visit in the near future, and then the parties would sign “formal agreements.”

A delegation from the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Trade arrived in Moscow on August 14 for negotiations. According to the Russian Ambassador to Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov, the issues on the supply of oil, wheat and sunflower oil were brought up for discussion.

On May 13, Afghan Chargé d’Affaires in Moscow Jamal Nasir Garwal said that the country intends to expand economic cooperation with Russia, especially on gas and oil purchases. Russian President Vladimir Putin approved allocation of a certain amount of grain to Afghanistan if necessary.

Also, a delegation from Afghanistan took part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June (SPIEF). Then the head of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mohammadyounis Hossein, announced Afghanistan’s intention to buy 5,000 tons of oil and 2 million tons of grain from Russia.

In August 2021, after the withdrawal of American troops from the country, representatives of the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan. Since then, Moscow has not officially recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, but has been cooperating with representatives of the movement.