Business
Saleh rejects SIGAR claims of cash being smuggled out through airport
Amrullah Saleh, First Vice President has rejected the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction’s (SIGAR) report over the smuggling of cash from the Hamid Karzai International Airport.
In his daily 6:30 am meeting, Saleh stated: “However a massive amount of foreign currency does exit Afghanistan’s porous land borders by cross-border networks.
“The report on the flight of foreign currency from Kabul airport is not correct and substantiated,” said Saleh.
Saleh added that a large amount of cash was flowing out of the country to Pakistan.
“The strict anti-money laundering regulations have created a dark parallel market. Let’s be real,” he emphasized.
Last week, SIGAR reported that the unchecked flow of cash out of Afghanistan still exits at the Kabul airport due to poor screening procedures.
According to the report, cash counting machines, which were funded by the US government, are not being used for the purposes intended and the only cash counting machine confirmed to be working is in the arrival entrance, instead of the departure area where strict cash controls are most needed to help prevent cash smuggling.
In addition, the machines lack connectivity to the Internet, which in turn prevents Afghan investigative authorities from tracking currency suspected of being laundered.
“The absence of fully functional and strategically positioned cash counting machines, and declaration forms in the VIP section along with the limited screening of VIP passengers – who are most likely to have large amounts of cash – severely limits the Afghan government’s ability to fully implement its anti-money laundering laws at the airport,” John F. Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction stated in the report.
Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), during his official visit to Termez, Uzbekistan, met with Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, to discuss expanding bilateral economic ties.
The meeting was attended by Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, Governor of Balkh, Abdul Ghaffar Bahr, Afghan Ambassador to Tashkent, and several representatives from Afghanistan’s private sector. The two sides held extensive talks on enhancing trade relations, increasing trade volumes, expanding transit routes, removing trade barriers, and promoting joint economic initiatives.
Minister Azizi emphasized the growing partnership between the two countries and stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of agreements while providing greater support and facilities for traders and investors.
Deputy Prime Minister Khodjayev welcomed the Afghan delegation, highlighting the interest of Uzbek investors in sectors such as agriculture, mining, transport, infrastructure, and health. He also announced Uzbekistan’s readiness to deploy technical teams to support the execution of joint projects.
Azizi expressed Afghanistan’s full commitment to cooperating on shared economic initiatives, while representatives from the Afghan private sector shared their proposals, emphasizing the importance of closer collaboration between the two countries’ private sectors.
The meeting also included participation from Uzbekistan’s Ministers of Transport, Agriculture, Energy, and Health, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and several provincial governors, who joined online.
Rail freight between Iran and Afghanistan has increased 17-fold during the 1404 solar year, underscoring a sharp rise in cross-border trade and transit activity, Iranian officials say.
Shahryar Naqizada, Director General of Foreign Trade for Iran’s Railway, told state news agency IRNA that between March 2025 and February 2026, some 650,000 tons of goods were transported to Afghanistan by rail.
Of that total, approximately 150,000 tons consisted of transit cargo — goods originating in third countries and routed through Iran before entering Afghanistan.
The surge reflects Tehran’s broader push to strengthen regional connectivity and position itself as a key trade corridor linking Central Asia to international markets.
Rail links between the two neighbors have become increasingly important as Afghanistan seeks alternative trade routes and more cost-effective import channels.
A major driver of this growth is the Khaf–Herat railway line, which connects northeastern Iran to western Afghanistan and has gradually expanded commercial operations in recent years.
The line reduces transport costs and transit times compared to road freight, while also improving reliability for bulk commodities such as construction materials, fuel, food products, and industrial goods.
Looking ahead, Naqizada said Iran aims to move two million tons of cargo through the Shamtigh border crossing in the 1405 solar year (2026–2027), calling the target achievable given current momentum.
The increase in rail shipments comes amid expanding economic engagement between the two countries, including discussions on infrastructure investment, transit cooperation, and agricultural trade.
Analysts say improved rail connectivity could further integrate Afghanistan into regional supply chains, particularly if complementary customs and logistics systems are strengthened on both sides of the border.
Iran is exploring ways to deepen economic engagement with Afghanistan, focusing on contract farming and trade, as discussions continue over potential formal recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) government, a senior Iranian business official said.
According to Iran News Daily, Mahmoud Siadat, head of the Iran–Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would boost investor confidence and facilitate long-term projects, including rail links connecting Iran to China via Afghanistan.
While no formal recognition has been confirmed, Siadat noted that bilateral relations have steadily improved.
Iran exports over $3 billion in goods and services annually to Afghanistan, including technical and engineering services, while Afghan exports to Iran remain limited at around $100 million.
Siadat highlighted agriculture as a key growth area, with plans for contract farming where Iranian firms would provide technology, expertise, and guaranteed purchase agreements for Afghan crops and livestock.
“Instead of importing legumes from Canada, we can source them from Afghanistan,” he said, noting that structured agricultural cooperation could benefit both countries.
Remittances from Afghans working in Iran, he added, further underline the strong economic ties between the neighbors.
Even without formal recognition, trade remains robust, but Siadat emphasized that a clear diplomatic framework could unlock more investment and strategic projects.
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