Taliban Seek to Participate in Kazan Forum Again

The Taliban have requested to participate in the KazanForum economic forum in Kazan, expressing their readiness to showcase Afghan entrepreneurs' products and sign an agreement on gas transit, reports NewsBox.

Representatives of the Taliban movement, banned in Russia, have asked to reserve a spot for them at the KazanForum economic forum, which is set to take place in Kazan on May 15–16. This was conveyed by Afghanistan's acting Minister of Industry and Trade, Nuriddin Azizi, in a letter addressed to Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of Tatarstan.

"We would like to organize an exhibition pavilion in a strategic location and in the best possible way to showcase the products of our leading businessmen," emphasized Azizi.

He also stated that the Taliban are willing to become permanent partners of the event, which is considered a premier platform for economic collaboration between Russia and the Islamic world.

According to the Russian Business Center in Afghanistan, more than 60 Afghan entrepreneurs have expressed a desire to participate in the forum. They plan to present products including dried fruits, nuts, jewelry, textiles, carpets, cosmetics, household chemicals, and food items.

Additionally, the movement intends to sign an agreement with Russia on the transit of 50 million cubic meters of liquefied natural gas through Afghanistan.

This is not the Taliban's first participation in such events. Their delegation visited Kazan in 2023 for the KazanForum, although Russian authorities at that time attempted to keep the visit under the radar. Subsequently, movement representatives visited Tatarstan twice more, including to discuss educational initiatives.

In the fall of 2024, they wanted to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan, but their request remained unanswered.