Kabul Stresses Regional Trade at Antalya Diplomacy Forum

DID Press: Taliban’s Minister of Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, emphasized the importance of dialogue among conflicting parties to resolve disputes and boost economic activity during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

He said: “The most important steps to increase trade are strengthening political trust, identifying shared interests, and promoting an economic narrative in the region.”

Azizi added that such measures could pave the way for enhanced regional cooperation, as well as increased intra-regional trade and investment.

Referring to recent tensions with Pakistan, he stated that “brothers living on both sides of the Durand Line” have been affected by the situation.

According to him, prior to the outbreak of border clashes in February, Afghanistan’s trade volume with Pakistan had reached $6 billion.

The minister stressed that trade issues should be treated separately from political disputes, adding: “We hope our trade with Pakistan will resume… and problems will be resolved.”

He also underscored themes of peace and humanity, saying Afghans “have not been the cause of wars in the world,” and described them as having been “defenders” during the two-decade conflict against foreign forces led by the United States, which ended with the withdrawal in August 2021.

Azizi concluded by calling for all problems and disputes to be resolved through dialogue.