The Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Moscow, pointing to the expansion of cooperation between the two countries, has expressed Afghanistan’s interest in importing oil and gas from Russia.
In an interview with Russia’s TASS news agency, Gul Hassan Hassan said that the removal of restrictions imposed on Afghanistan’s banking system would enable the country to export fresh and dried fruits, carpets, and other goods to Russia.
The Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Moscow stated:
“Trade and economic relations between the two countries are expanding. If certain challenges—particularly the restrictions imposed on Afghanistan’s banking system—are removed, Kabul will be able to import oil, gas, industrial and agricultural products, food items, edible oils, and other goods from Russia.”
Gul Hassan Hassan also said that the Afghan embassy in Moscow is working to showcase Afghan products by opening an exhibition in the Russian capital.
This comes as trade between Afghanistan and Russia, despite existing restrictions, reached $360 million during the past eight months of the current solar year.
Although trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia date back to the 19th century and took on a supportive form during the former Soviet Union era, the current focus of trade is on importing oil, gas, wheat, industrial, and agricultural products from Russia. Meanwhile, Russia has shown interest in energy and transit projects.
Economic analysts, considering Russia’s current international position, believe that trade between Kabul and Moscow is beneficial for Afghanistan.
Economic analyst Abdul Nasir Reshtia said:
“Russia is currently under global economic sanctions, which provides Afghanistan with an opportunity to purchase oil products from Russia. This allows Afghanistan access to cheaper goods and faster imports. I hope that expanding relations with Russia will once again give Afghanistan access to Russian markets.”
However, discussions on expanding trade between Afghanistan and Russia are taking place at a time when Russia remains under strict economic and trade sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine.
This raises the question of whether expanding trade between Afghanistan and Russia is possible under these sanctions.
Economic expert Abdul Jabbar said:
“If our banks cannot transfer money there, we can use a barter system. We previously had such a system with Russia—meaning goods exchanged for goods. We can export many of our products to Russia and, in return, import oil from them.”
Analysts also say that, given the current situation, Afghanistan needs to expand its trade relations with other countries.
