In a new customs-free zone on the dusty Uzbek-Afghan border, Taliban representative Sayed Zaher Shah is pleased with his country鈥檚 rapidly growing trade links in the region.
鈥榃e have big plans for Central Asia,鈥� Zaher Shah told AFP in an interview at the complex 鈥� a symbol of cooperation between ex-Soviet Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Four years since the Taliban takeover, economic cooperation is the overriding concern among the five Central Asian states, which all fear the spread of radical Islamism.
鈥楾he policy of the Islamic Emirate is oriented towards an open economy. We have good relations with all our neighbours,鈥� Zaher Shah said at the Airitom zone near Termez, in southern Uzbekistan.
Airitom, which opened last year, hosts around 300 businesses, restaurants, a library, conference halls, a Hilton hotel and a state-of-the-art medical centre.
There is no value-added tax or customs duties charged on transactions in the zone.
To reach it, Afghans need to cross the 鈥楩riendship Bridge鈥�, which was used by Soviet troops retreating from Afghanistan in 1989 as well as Afghan soldiers fleeing the lightning Taliban advance in 2021.
Abdul Qayom Karimi, 73, said he was receiving medical treatment at Airitom that he could not get in his Afghan home city of Mazar-i-Sharif, around 100 kilometres (62 miles) away.
鈥楳y nephew knew about this place and spoke highly of it so I wanted to come here for a general checkup. The doctors here are very advanced,鈥� he said.
Gul Ahmad Amini, a man in his 60s, said he had come with his family after hearing about the centre.
鈥榃e are going to buy some things and then we want to go to the clinic to do a health check,鈥� he said.
Sanjar Sodikov, an Uzbek official at Airitom, said over 1,000 Uzbeks and up to 2,000 Afghans visit the centre every day.
Afghan nationals can travel visa-free for up to 15 days to Uzbekistan.
Despite the openness, there are still security concerns however.
Border guards carry out stringent checks at the entrance of Airitom and barbed wire tops the wall around it.
Police and plain clothes Uzbek security agents patrolled the area, on alert because of the visiting AFP journalists.
The air-conditioned space offers relief from the heat and dust for Afghans.
Its walls are covered in inspiring quotes about friendship and cooperation from Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Landlocked Central Asia is trying to regain its historic role as an important trading route.
Access to the sea, heading south through Afghanistan, is vital since the route north through Russia is hampered by sanctions.
鈥楾he aim is to develop trade relations with Afghanistan and access markets in Iran and Pakistan through cross-border routes,鈥� Sodikov said.
Central Asian countries are launching major infrastructure projects, such as railways, to boost ties with the Taliban.
Afghanistan, which according to the UN is in the middle of a humanitarian crisis, stands to gain greater energy and food security.
Central Asia鈥檚 rapprochement with Kabul began long before Russia in July became the first country to recognise Afghanistan鈥檚 Taliban government.
Kazakhstan in 2024 took the Taliban off a list of terrorist organisations, Uzbekistan is boosting diplomatic ties and Kyrgyzstan has urged the West to recognise the Taliban.
Even reclusive Turkmenistan is getting involved with the massive TAPI natural gas pipeline going from Turkmenistan, through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India.
Tajikistan, the only Central Asian country that is critical of the Taliban, has nevertheless also boosted economic links.
There are still signs of friction, such as over the Qosh Tepa Canal in Afghanistan which threatens the region鈥檚 fragile water security.
On a local level, several business owners at Airitom complained to AFP about their difficulties.
鈥楽ales are down because of the difficulty in importing and exporting products. The controls... take too long,鈥� said Khursand Tursunov, an Uzbek seller of farm produce.
The Afghan carpet salesman Abdullah Torkaman said he was 鈥榤aking a loss鈥�.
鈥極nly 10 kilos of product or up to $200 worth can be exported per month. The management has promised to increase the limit and trade will soon be easier,鈥� he said.
Still, the model is seen as a success.
鈥楾here is a plan to open a similar market in Afghanistan,鈥� Zaher Shah said.
