- Afghanistan's Taliban government has reached an agreement with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to build a logistics hub in western Afghanistan, according to acting commerce minister Nooruddin Azizi. Reuters
- Afghanistan's central location on the Silk Road — a network of trade routes linking Asia and the Mediterranean basin — made it a major logistics point for regional trade for centuries. DAWN.COM
- According to Azizi, the hub will be established in the Herat province, as Afghanistan — which shares borders with Iran and China — intends to become a connectivity point for Russian oil entering South Asian markets. Middle East Monitor
- The announcement comes after Taliban officials met with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan leaders in Kabul last Friday, reportedly to discuss logistics and infrastructure projects to link North and South Asia, lower transit expenses, and boost the transportation sector. Afghanistan International
- A written agreement will be drawn up within two months, while the three countries could start investing after six months of talks. Azizi said the hub's initial capacity would be 1M tons of oil. Reuters
Narrative A:
- Afghanistan's Taliban government is committed to restoring the country's place as a major connectivity hub in Asia. By reaching an agreement with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the Taliban has secured key projects to improve transportation and trade in the entire region. This deal is just the beginning as Afghanistan moves to become the linchpin in a network that connects all parts of Asia leveraging its historical Silk Road ties.
BNE INTELLINEWS
Narrative B:
- Since seizing power three years ago, the Taliban has plunged Afghanistan into a diplomatic and economic disaster. As the international community withdraws foreign aid, the Taliban has taken aim at Afghani citizens and the country’s natural resources to generate revenue. By hiking taxes and depleting the country’s natural resources, the Taliban is inflicting more harm than good.
RADIOFREEEUROPE/RADIOLIBERTY
Nerd narrative:
- There's an 80% chance that Pakistan will recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)