Afghanistan seeks restrictions lift on Russian oil supplies

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 May 2024 00:06

Trade between Russia and Afghanistan has markedly surged in recent years, rising from $170 million in 2022 to over $1 billion presently.

A general view of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industry Haji Nooruddin Azizi told Sputnik on Friday that Afghanistan has increased its imports of Russian oil products despite facing some restrictions in 2023, and that Kabul is hopeful that these restrictions could be lifted.

"We had agreements [with Russia]. We launched a program to purchase more oil. The private sector has also become more active. After that, oil supplies to Afghanistan started. Unfortunately, last year, Russia limited its oil exports to Afghanistan," Azizi said on the sidelines of the International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum".

The official did not mention a specific figure regarding the current volume of oil being exported to Afghanistan by Russia.

Azizi also mentioned that Kabul would like for Moscow to lift the restrictions, as Afghanistan requires approximately 4 million tonnes of oil and oil products annually, even though some of these needs are met through imports from Iran and Turkmenistan.

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, after the US-led military force withdrew from the country.

In the 20 years during which Afghanistan was invaded by the NATO-led coalition, the Southern-Central Asian country has suffered tremendous destruction at unprecedented levels, leaving the country crippled by an excruciating economic crisis and sporadic terror attacks spearheaded by IS-K.

Compounding the crisis is the illegal seizure of Afghanistan's sovereign assets deposited in the US, with some of these funds being directed towards compensating 9/11 survivors, while the remainder is being held as leverage for influencing Afghanistan's domestic and foreign policies according to American interests.

The war-torn nation has sought to recover from the damage by forging alliances with global powers, including China and Russia.

Since then, trade between Russia and Afghanistan has markedly surged in recent years, rising from $170 million in 2022 to over $1 billion presently.

Russia to create job opportunities in Afghanistan, invest in projects

On Wednesday, Sputnik reported that Russia intends to create job places in Afghanistan and invest in projects there.

"We are aiming to develop workplaces and attract Russian investors into Afghan projects," head of the Russian Business Center in Afghanistan, Rustam Khabibullin told Sputnik.

Khabibullin noted that Afghan factories, agriculture, and the construction of the Qosh Tepa water canal are all significant focal points for the business center.

"A number of our [Russian] companies arrange long-term leases of land areas for agricultural purposes near this canal," the official said.

Khabibullin mentioned Russia's active engagement in humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, noting that the Charity Patriotic Muslims Fund distributed over 250,000 boxes of medicines to those in need in Afghanistan last year.