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Afghanistan has moved to deepen health and trade cooperation with Uzbekistan, while also holding separate talks with Kyrgyz and Uzbek diplomats on regional ties, transit and future joint steps.
Afghanistan’s latest engagement with Central Asian partners comes as officials from Kabul and Tashkent advance practical cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, trade and investment, while talks with Kyrgyzstan also focused on expanding economic links.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held separate meetings with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Babur Usmanov and Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gairat Tursunoglov. According to information released, the talks focused on bilateral relations, trade and transit cooperation, the regional situation, and support for Central Asia consultative talks.

In Kabul, Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health met Abdullah Azizov, Director of Uzbekistan’s Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry, and his delegation. According to an official statement, the talks focused on pharmaceutical trade, treatment opportunities for Afghan patients in Uzbekistan, and training for healthcare workers.
Summing up the priorities of the meeting, the public health minister said, “Ensuring the quality of medicines, providing standard healthcare services, and strengthening coordination between the two countries are key priorities to deliver quality and reliable healthcare to the people.”
He added, “Sustained cooperation between the two countries can help strengthen healthcare systems and ensure timely and effective responses to people’s needs.”
A separate meeting in Kabul, attended by health officials, government representatives, businesspeople, technical teams and pharmaceutical sector representatives from both countries, concluded with 13 commercial agreements worth more than $25 million, according to the official statement.
Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical industry chief also signalled further support. He said his country was ready to support Afghanistan in “pharmaceutical production, exports, knowledge transfer and capacity building for healthcare workers.”
Separately, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment said a business networking meeting in Fergana resulted in 20 agreements worth more than $400 million in textiles, raw materials and pharmaceuticals. Afghan and Kyrgyz officials also discussed raising bilateral trade to $1 billion.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for continuing to target Russia's energy infrastructure, while Russian strikes on Kyiv overnight killed at least one person and damaged a metro station.
The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.
A Saudi AH-6i helicopter crashed in the Najran region of Saudi Arabia due to a technical malfunction, killing its two crew members, the Saudi-led coalition's spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki said in a statement on Sunday.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the violence, looting and vandalism that erupted during cost-of-living protests across France. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held crisis talks on Monday, calling for partial curfews and raising the possibility of a state of emergency.
An oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said late Sunday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said regional issues should be resolved through diplomacy and blamed the United States for insecurity and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, speaking at a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday.
Iran and Russia renewed calls for diplomatic solutions to end the ongoing regional conflict, while also pledging to deepen bilateral political and economic cooperation following Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Tehran on Monday.
Türkiye is set to receive Russian diesel under a U.S.-backed agreement, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Sunday, as Ankara pushes ahead with plans to boost domestic gas production and reduce its reliance on imported energy.
An oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said late Sunday.
Azerbaijan exported $23.45 million worth of goods to Armenia between January and September 2026, according to data released by the State Customs Committee on 19 October.
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