Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban government, met on Tuesday in Kabul with Zamir Kabulov, the special presidential envoy of the Russian Federation for Afghanistan.
According to a statement released by the Taliban foreign ministry, both sides discussed enhancing bilateral relations, trade exchanges, ongoing political developments, and counter-narcotics efforts within Afghanistan.
During the talks, Muttaqi emphasized the importance of boosting economic and commercial partnerships, noting that both nations should actively utilize shared economic opportunities. He also reiterated the administration's pledge to tackle the cultivation, processing, and trafficking of narcotics.
The Taliban statement reported that Kabulov commended their efforts in combating narcotics, claiming that findings by certain international organizations do not accurately capture the reality on the ground in Afghanistan.
These remarks follow a recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime indicating that opium production in Afghanistan rose nearly fivefold, from roughly 300 metric tons in 2025 to almost 1,500 metric tons in 2026, driven by expanded cultivation and favorable rainfall.
Kabulov had previously traveled to Kabul in May to hold high-level discussions with Taliban officials. Moscow has continued to maintain regular diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian interactions with Kabul over recent years.
Source: Taliban Foreign Ministry
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