Payment topic: Afghanistan discusses accepting Mir cards with Russia
Afghanistan is striving to break out of international isolation, which is facilitated by the development of ties with Russia. Kabul and Moscow, in particular, are discussing accepting Mir bank cards, the country's ambassador to Russia, Gul Hassan Hassan, told Izvestia. He noted that the Islamic Emirate needs money transactions to be carried out without any problems. This will allow us to develop trade relations, as well as help attract tourists from the Russian Federation. The countries can agree on the use of Mir cards, but there are a number of difficulties, including the lack of bank terminals in Afghanistan, experts tell Izvestia. We should not forget about the international sanctions imposed on the country after the return of the Taliban to power in 2021.
Why should Afghanistan accept the "Peace" cards
On July 3, Russia officially became the first country in the world to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The parties are currently negotiating to deepen trade and investment ties. In particular, Afghanistan is discussing with the Russian Federation the acceptance of Mir bank cards, the country's ambassador to Moscow, Gul Hassan Hassan, told Izvestia.
— There is work in this area, negotiations are underway. We need money transactions for purchases to be carried out without any restrictions and problems," he said.
Financial restrictions were imposed on Afghanistan after the return of the Taliban movement to power in August 2021. They include the freezing of assets of the country's Central Bank, estimated at more than $9 billion, and the suspension of access to international banking operations, which severely restricts the financial system and the activities of the public sector of the local economy.
Georgy Ostapkovich, Research Director of the HSE Center for Market Research, notes that the introduction of Mir cards in Afghanistan will not affect the Russian payment system and mutual settlements with other countries. By the way, our card can now be used to pay in at least ten countries to one degree or another.
— There will be no fundamental sanctions against Afghanistan or Russia from the West because of this. The Americans will not impose restrictions on payments in the country. Europe probably won't pay attention either. There are a lot of other problems now," he told Izvestia.
In general, this project is really feasible, but there are many technical problems, says Omar Nessar, a researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
— The fact is that the infrastructure of bank cards in this country is very weak. There are few places where you can pay with a bank card. Therefore, it is possible that the launch of Mir maps will be more symbolic and, to some extent, political in nature," the expert tells Izvestia.
According to him, first of all it is necessary to establish serious banking relations. Secondly, there have been large-scale communication failures in Afghanistan recently. If this continues to happen, then the issue of the operation of banking systems in the country as a whole will arise.
Development of mutual trade
Using the Russian payment system would greatly simplify Afghanistan's settlements with the Russian Federation. Moreover, the trade turnover between the two countries is growing, and the parties are even discussing trading in national currencies. It is also important that Russian companies are already operating in the Islamic Emirate. For example, in May, Inteco Group signed an oil production and refining agreement with representatives of Afghanistan. By that time, the company's specialists had carried out geological exploration and were ready to start drilling operations. Earlier, Minister of Mining and Petroleum Hedayatullah Badri stressed that the doors are open for Russian companies, urging them, in particular, to invest in the oil and gas sector.
— Recently, there was a delegation from Afghanistan to Russia and a Russian delegation to Afghanistan. There are even initial agreements in the oil and gas sector. If we find out that there are other companies interested in investing in this area, we will negotiate with them and also work with them," said the Afghan Ambassador to the Russian Federation.
Earlier, Minister of Industry and Trade Nuriddin Azizi stressed that Afghanistan would welcome the work of Russian companies both in the energy sector and in the mining industry. And on October 16, it became known that Russia could build small hydroelectric power plants in Afghanistan — this issue was discussed at a meeting between Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev and Afghan Minister of Water Resources and Energy Abdul Latif Mansour.
Tourism is also one of the promising areas for cooperation between Moscow and Kabul. Travelers use cash to pay for purchases and services.
— Now we have a lot of tourists from Russia. They can walk in the afternoon and evening without any restrictions," the ambassador says.
Afghanistan is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for tourists. According to official government statistics, about 7.7 thousand foreigners visited it last year. Historical sights were the most popular among travelers.
The local authorities, however, noted that the development of tourism is one of their priorities. Last year, the Ministry of Information and Culture issued more than 500 licenses for activities in the tourism industry.
Nevertheless, in the same year, 2024, the Russian Foreign Ministry strongly recommended that Russian citizens refrain from traveling to Afghanistan. A few days earlier, three Spanish citizens were killed in shelling in the city of Bamiyan. Four more foreigners were seriously injured at that time. In mid-July 2025, Russian ethnographer Svyatoslav Kaverin was detained in Afghanistan for allegedly attempting to smuggle jewelry. It turned out that he was carrying souvenirs for friends, bought at an antique shop. The ethnographer spent 52 days under arrest and was repatriated to Russia on September 8. Thus, Afghanistan is still considered one of the most controversial destinations for travel.
Meanwhile, Moscow and Kabul maintain cooperation in the humanitarian fields. In particular, work is currently underway to open an Afghan cultural center in Russia.
— Of course, we are working on it. Negotiations are currently underway with the Russian Federation to obtain land and build a cultural center there," the ambassador says.
Rossotrudnichestvo also did not rule out the opening of a Russian center for science and culture in the Islamic Emirate in the future.
— Given the constructive relations that have developed between the Russian and Afghan governments, it cannot be ruled out that the issue of opening a full-scale center may receive a positive impetus. However, this will depend on the development of bilateral relations, they told Izvestia.
Security cooperation
Of course, one of the keys to developing contacts with Afghanistan is security. Instability in relations with neighbors also creates problems for the growth of trade and economic ties. So, on October 15, Pakistan attacked the positions of armed formations in Afghanistan. However, soon after the intense fighting on the Afghan-Pakistani border, the sides reached a truce. As a result, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire at the Doha talks.
At the same time, the issue of combating international terrorism remains a serious problem. Moscow and Kabul are working together in this area, said the Afghan Ambassador to the Russian Federation.
Earlier, Vladimir Putin stressed that the Afghan authorities were taking all necessary measures to normalize the situation in the country, but there were still enough problems. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also stressed that, despite external pressure and economic difficulties, the country's authorities manage to effectively combat terrorism.
"We pay tribute to Kabul that, under conditions of serious external pressure and with a relatively modest state budget, it manages to fight terrorist groups quite effectively, primarily the Afghan branch of the Islamic State group (IS, recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation). Hundreds of militants who sowed death and destruction on Afghan soil have been eliminated. Significant progress has been made on the anti—drug track," he said.
Good relations with Afghanistan now require an open and equal dialogue, and plans for mutually beneficial cooperation are currently being formed, Sergei Naryshkin, head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, said on October 17. The Russian Federation also advocates that Afghanistan remain an independent state without military bases on its territory.
"The attention of many international players has always been drawn to Afghanistan. The position of the Russian Federation is for Afghanistan to remain an independent state without military bases on the territory of this country," Naryshkin said, stressing that this is the interest of regional states, and above all the interest of the citizens of Afghanistan.
Bagram Air Base is located 60 km northwest of Kabul. During the Soviet campaign of 1979-1989, this airfield was one of the key points of deployment of troops. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States sent troops into Afghanistan, and Bagram came under Washington's control. In 2021, American troops left the airfield during the withdrawal of their army from Afghanistan.
However, in September 2025, Donald Trump repeatedly announced the US intention to regain control of the airbase. The Afghan Government recalled that the United States should fulfill the commitments made under the Doha Agreement in 2020. The authorities have also publicly ruled out the military presence of Americans in the country.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
