ALMATY – The Kazakh government held the first meeting of the interagency working group on development of cooperation with Afghanistan on Jan. 28 under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.
According to Zhumangarin, the government aims to develop transport corridors, enhancing trade and economic ties. Photo credit: Prime Minister’s press service.
Zhumangarin emphasized that the working group aims to streamline interdepartmental efforts, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and maximize the country’s potential for cooperation with Afghanistan, reported the Prime Minister’s press service.
Coordination of ongoing issues with the Afghan side has been entrusted to the Special Representative of the President of Kazakhstan for Afghanistan and Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yerkin Tukumov.
According to Zhumangarin, the government aims to develop transport corridors to enhance trade and economic ties. He noted that current efforts require stronger interagency coordination and a more comprehensive approach.
During the meeting, officials also discussed opportunities in transport and logistics, energy, healthcare, and education, as well as joint projects in the mining and metallurgical sectors. In 2025, humanitarian aid was delivered to Afghanistan twice, bringing the total support over the past five years to 6.4 billion tenge (approximately US$12.7 million).
Transport and education initiatives
Vice Minister of Transport Zhanibek Taizhanov reported that the CASA railway project, connecting Turgundi, Herat, Kandahar, and Spin Boldak through Afghanistan, is progressing according to plan. Kazakhstan has submitted a draft trilateral memorandum to the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, with signing scheduled for February 2026, and is preparing a separate agreement with Pakistan’s Ministry of Railways, which supports the proposed route.
Vice Minister of Science and Higher Education Gulzat Kobenova noted that 610 Afghan students are now studying at 34 Kazakh universities. Under an existing memorandum, 30 educational grants are offered annually, with plans to increase the quota to 60 grants per year.
