The Expanding Ties Between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan
Adkhamjon Janobiddinov
In recent years, cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan has significantly expanded. Bilateral trade turnover has surpassed one billion USD, and a free economic zone has been established on the Uzbek side of the border. In addition, the two countries have engaged in various forms of collaboration in areas such as humanitarian aid, migration, and more. This article aims to analyze the current state of Uzbekistan–Afghanistan relations and explore the key sectors driving their partnership.
Trade remains the cornerstone of Uzbekistan–Afghanistan relations. In 2024, bilateral trade reached approximately $1.1 billion, with Uzbek exports making up over $1 billion of that total. During a high-level visit in February by Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar, both sides expressed interest in deepening economic ties. As a result, Uzbekistan agreed to lift import restrictions on Afghan agricultural goods and announced the establishment of a free economic zone near the border. This zone is expected to house processing facilities for Afghan products such as pine nuts and cotton. Both countries are optimistic about expanding commerce, with plans to increase trade volume to $3 billion in the near future.
Uzbekistan is currently the largest electricity supplier to Afghanistan, providing nearly 60% of the country’s electricity imports. A key project aimed at increasing this supply is the 500 kV transmission line connecting Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya region to Dashti-Alvan in northern Afghanistan. Although delayed several times since its initiation in 2018, the project is back on track following Baradar’s recent visit, during which the cost was renegotiated down from $252 million to $222 million. Additionally, Uzbekistan has committed to investing $100 million annually over ten years to develop Afghanistan’s Toti-Mardan gas field. These moves reflect Uzbekistan’s broader interest in Afghanistan’s energy and resource sectors, including potential investments in oil, gas, and even cement production in Samangan Province.
One of the most significant projects between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan is the Trans-Afghan railway. This ambitious project aims to link Termez in Uzbekistan with Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul, and eventually Peshawar in Pakistan, creating a vital trade corridor through Central and South Asia. Such a connection would enable smoother transport of goods across the region, potentially involving major players like China and Russia, while generating substantial transit revenue for both Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
Recently, Afghanistan sent 16 trucks of white marble from Herat for the reconstruction of Imam al-Bukhari complex in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. As Abdulaziz Kamilov, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council for foreign policy and security mentioned, this gesture demonstrates spiritual connection between these two nations. Moreover, Uzbekistan delivered 183 tons of food supplies to Afghanistan on the eve of Eid al-Adha this year.
Overall, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan relations are growing. By reaching new agreements in trade and investment, both countries can create new jobs and foster their economies. Cooperation in humanitarian aid, culture and education help promote solidarity and mutual understanding between these two nations.
