PANNIER: Kazakhstan helping to get wheels turning on Afghanistan railway projects
bne IntelliNewsMay 02
Taliban Reaches Deal to Create Regional Logistics Hub
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The Facts
Afghanistan's Taliban government has reached an agreement with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to build a logistics hub in western Afghanistan, according to acting commerce minister Nooruddin Azizi.
Afghanistan's central location on the Silk Road — a network of trade routes linking Asia and the Mediterranean basin — made it a major logistics point for regional trade for centuries.
The Spin
Narrative A
Afghanistan's Taliban government is committed to restoring the country's place as a major connectivity hub in Asia. By reaching an agreement with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the Taliban has secured key projects to improve transportation and trade in the entire region. This deal is just the beginning as Afghanistan moves to become the linchpin in a network that connects all parts of Asia leveraging its historical Silk Road ties.
Narrative B
Since seizing power three years ago, the Taliban has plunged Afghanistan into a diplomatic and economic disaster. As the international community withdraws foreign aid, the Taliban has taken aim at Afghani citizens and the country’s natural resources to generate revenue. By hiking taxes and depleting the country’s natural resources, the Taliban is inflicting more harm than good.