Afghanistan’s Taliban government has expressed a strong interest in joining the BRICS economic forum, as stated by a government spokesman on Tuesday, just ahead of the upcoming summit set to take place in Russia.
The BRICS summit, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is scheduled to convene from October 22 to 24 in Kazan, a city located in southwestern Russia.
Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for the Taliban government, articulated that the BRICS forum includes nations that are not only rich in resources but also represent some of the world’s largest economies, particularly highlighting the significance of Russia, India, and China in this context.
He emphasized the importance of these countries in Afghanistan’s economic landscape, stating, “Countries with major resources and the world’s biggest economies are associated with the BRICS forum.”
Fitrat further noted that Afghanistan currently enjoys robust economic ties and commercial exchanges with these nations and expressed a keen desire to broaden these relationships by actively participating in the economic discussions hosted by BRICS.
Despite the Taliban’s ruling authority in Afghanistan, the group has yet to gain formal recognition from any country.
However, it has been cultivating closer ties with founding BRICS members, especially China and Russia.
The recent expansion of the BRICS group to include nations such as Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Ethiopia has added to its influence on the global economic stage.
However, there has been no official response from the BRICS group regarding the Taliban government’s expressed interest in joining.
In a follow-up to the remarks made by Fitrat, a spokesperson for the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs told AFP that they currently have “no information so far” concerning an invitation to participate in the forthcoming BRICS summit.
Both Russia and China have indicated their willingness to invest in various commercial projects within Afghanistan, showcasing an openness to collaborate with the Taliban authorities, especially in addressing security concerns related to the Islamic State Khorasan, which represents the Afghan branch of the Islamic State group.
This willingness from major BRICS members highlights a potential shift in the geopolitical landscape surrounding Afghanistan and its economic prospects.
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