Russia has signed an interim deal with the Taliban to supply gas to Afghanistan. It is about half a million tons of liquefied gas per year. In addition, there are annual deliveries of one million tons of petrol, one million tons of diesel and two million tons of wheat. The contract is initially for a one-time supply and can be extended. Russia has not yet commented on this.
For the Taliban, the deal could be the largest international trade deal since they came to power in August 2021, sending the country into a severe economic crisis. The economic situation had deteriorated continuously in the last years of the old government.
Much of the international aid money also seeped into corruption and never reached the population, contributing significantly to the collapse of the western-backed government.
Now that the Taliban has been in power for another year (see video above), the situation has deteriorated even further. The country is internationally isolated and severe sanctions have been imposed on the militant Islamist Taliban for continuing human rights violations. So far, no country has recognized the Taliban government. However, Russia is one of the few countries that still has an embassy in the country.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
