The key facts

  • Overchuk's visit to Kabul with 70 Russian businesspeople for talks with the Taliban government
  • Baradar invited Russian companies to invest in agriculture, mining, roads, railways, and factories, and to create a special economic zone
  • Overchuk estimated Russia–Afghanistan trade turnover for the first eight months of 2026 at more than $349 million — more than a twofold increase

A large delegation arrived in Kabul

On Thursday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk arrived in Kabul accompanied by a delegation of 70 Russian entrepreneurs for business talks with the Taliban government. Afghan officials said the deputy prime minister was greeted by an honor guard. Overchuk held meetings with Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

What the sides discussed

According to the Afghan government, Baradar told the Russian side about Afghanistan's potential for economic development and investment, pointing to its 'strategic location, rich resources, and a workforce of 24 million people.' He invited Russian companies to invest in agriculture, mining, road construction, railways, and factories, and also to create a special economic zone in Afghanistan, expressing a desire to expand exports of Afghan agricultural products to Russia. Baradar also asked Russia to 'provide the necessary conditions for supplying Afghan products to Russian markets and to cooperate in reducing transport and transit costs.'

Delegation composition and trade figures

According to Overchuk, the delegation included companies already operating in Afghanistan, while 'many others want to start operating in this country.' He named their areas of activity: transport, logistics, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. In his words, the Afghan government is interested in Russian chemical fertilizers, as well as in 'building fertilizer production plants on Afghan soil.' Overchuk estimated trade between Russia and Afghanistan for the first eight months of 2026 at more than $349 million, noting that it had more than doubled.

Context of recognition

Russia officially recognized the Taliban government in July 2025 and remains the only state to have taken such a step since the Taliban came to power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US troops. Although other countries have not formally recognized the new Afghan regime, the Taliban have held high-level talks with many states and established concrete diplomatic and economic relations with a number of governments. The visit of such a high-level delegation, including a deputy prime minister, fits into this logic of gradual economic rapprochement that goes beyond formal recognition.