Russia to help rebuild Afghanistan, says Putin

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Russian president has asked the United States and its allies to bear the lion’s share of funding Afghanistan’s reconstruction. Vladimir Putin made the remarks during a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Moscow.
The state-run TASS news agency quoted the Russian leaser as stressing that the main obligations for the reconstruction of Afghanistan should be discharged by the US and its allies. He claimed the two-decade presence of the US and its partners had pushed Afghanistan into a critical situation, including the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
“Russia is ready to continue joint work with Turkmenistan and other partners … on the post-conflict reconstruction of Afghanistan,” Putin affirmed. He went on to pledge to help ensure the integration of the conflict-devastated country into regional infrastructure and logistics projects. Both sides noted the importance of ensuring stability and security in Afghanistan and addressing acute socio-economic problems. Putin called for neutralising threats emanating from the Afghan territory. He believed the threats were primarily related to terrorism.
Moscow lifts customs tariffs on Afghan exports: Russia exempts Afghan exports from customs duties. According to Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry pledged to exempt its customs items and expedite Afghanistan’s exports at a meeting with businessmen and investors.
According to officials at ACCI, a list of commodities to be exported to Russia will be developed soon, and once this list is completed, Russian customs exemption on the country’s exports would begin. “We requested export convenience; “They promise us a customs exemption in a list in which they exempt certain of our export goods,” said Khairuddin Mayel, deputy of ACCI.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s exports to Russia are now lower, according to the director of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, due to the high level of Russian customs products on the country’s trade goods. One of Afghanistan’s most important exports to Russia is dried fruits, particularly raisins.
“Russian customs were the same on Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. We think it is a good thing that Russia has given us an exemption,” said Mohammad Younus Momand, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment. However, the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock, believes that the exception for fruits and vegetables is vital to expanding Afghanistan’s exports.
The Russian market is suitable for selling agricultural products, according to the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock, and the country’s fruits and vegetables are exported to Central Asia and Russia every year. “The current opportunity must be taken advantage of in order to increase exports; it should be transited by wagons from Hairatan port to Russia,” said Mirwais Hajizada, a member of the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock.
“Currently our crops are sold on the roads. If our traders buy them and export them to other countries and sell them at a better price, it will be good for us as well,” said Noor Mohammad, a farmer. Afghanistan has exported 80,000 tons of potatoes to Russia, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and is also exporting onions from Kabul to Moscow.