According to Iraf, Nooruddin Azizi, acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Taliban, who traveled with a delegation from this group to Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan to participate in the Russia–Islamic World Economic Forum, emphasized the necessity of strengthening economic cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia in a meeting with Alexey Overchuk.
He claimed that “some circles” are trying to sabotage the relations between the two countries and that these actions must be countered “seriously.”
Media affiliated with the Taliban that reported on this meeting did not provide any explanation regarding the nature of these circles or the method of their efforts to sabotage relations.
The Taliban delegation, including the ministers of commerce and higher education, traveled to Russia to attend the annual Kazan meeting; a country that so far is the only government in the world to officially recognize the Taliban administration.
Review of sending Afghan workers to Russia
Azizi, on the sidelines of this meeting, announced that the Taliban government is reviewing the possibility of sending Afghan workers to Russia and that “there is also interest from Moscow.”
He said that various Taliban institutions are working on this issue, and efforts to reach “tangible results” continue.
According to him, cooperation in this field is “bilateral,” and both sides desire progress in this area.
Azizi cited the only main obstacle as “language problems” and added that a joint commission has been activated to remove these barriers.
Opposition from some Russian officials
Despite the statements of the Taliban minister, some Russian officials have previously expressed their opposition to recruiting workers from Afghanistan.
Mikhail Matveev, a representative of the Russian Parliament, described this plan as a “threat to the country’s security.”
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The deputy of the Regional Policies Committee of the Russian Duma also said: “In my opinion, bringing Afghans to Russia is a big mistake and can create a security threat.”
These reactions indicate that although the Taliban speak of “mutual interest,” there is serious opposition to this plan within Russia.
