Trade turnover between Russia, Afghanistan growing and stable -- envoy
- Trade between Moscow and Kabul doubled in H1, though the envoy humbly calls the raw numbers 'modest'.
- The Kremlin's man dubs the growth 'stable and progressive' — just like the last 20 years of Western efforts there.
- Afghanistan's fragile recovery is now fueled by Russian commerce, as the US-NATO era fades into a footnote.
- CSTO, CIS, and SCO huddle to chat security while Moscow quietly cashes in on post-occupation deals.
Brief Summary
In a triumph of understatement, Russia's special envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, announced that bilateral trade has doubled in the first half of the year — though he cautions that in absolute terms, the numbers are 'modest.' Because nothing says 'strategic partnership' like a couple of shipping containers of raisins and second-hand tractors. Kabulov insists the trend is 'stable and progressive,' which is diplomatic speak for 'we're not losing money, so let's pretend this is a win.' He credits Afghanistan's 'getting back on its feet' after the scorched-earth exit of the US-NATO coalition, conveniently ignoring that the country is still held together by duct tape and Kalashnikovs. Moscow vows to keep the momentum, aiming for 'mutually beneficial and constructive engagement' — code for selling grain and buying whatever’s left that isn’t rubble.
Why This Matters
For the average reader, this story is a grim chuckle: Russia is playing the long game in a graveyard of empires, portraying itself as the sober adult in the room while the West sulks out of Kabul. The doubling of trade, however 'modest,' signals Moscow’s creeping influence in a region the US spent trillions to pacify — a geopolitical one-finger salute wrapped in a business suit. For you, it means your gas prices and inflation are indirectly tethered to deals struck in Central Asian backrooms, even if you’ll never see a ruble of it. More importantly, it’s a reminder that 'stability' in Afghanistan is relative — like calling a house with no roof 'architecturally adventurous.' Expect Russia to brandish this as proof it can solve problems the West fumbled, while you ponder why your tax dollars funded 20 years of a chaos Moscow now profits from.