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New Delhi: Relations between India and the Taliban are steadily improving. On Wednesday, the Taliban signed a $46.3 million contract with an Indian company to build and equip key border crossings in Afghanistan and an advanced laboratory complex in Kabul. The agreement was signed between the Afghanistan Standards and Quality Authority and the Indian company TCRC. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, was also present at the ceremony.

According to Taliban officials, the five-year contract involves the construction and equipping of laboratory facilities in Kabul and at nine border ports across the country. The deal comes at a time when the Taliban have closed their border with Pakistan and are continuously increasing security along their borders. Faizullah Tamim, head of the Taliban’s Standards Authority, said the project includes laboratories that will focus on testing construction materials, electrical equipment, and textile, leather, and paper products.

Indian company to secure Afghan border
Faizullah Tamim said the company will also install advanced laboratory equipment, upgrade existing testing systems, and bring in foreign experts to help train Afghan staff. Under the agreement, the authority’s technical staff is expected to receive both domestic and international training programs.

Tamim also said that the project includes efforts to obtain internationally recognized certification from the International Organization for Standardization (known as ISO). He described the agreement as an important step toward improving product quality control, promoting domestic production, and preventing the import of substandard goods into Afghanistan.

The agreement comes amid tensions with Pakistan.
This comes at a time when border crossings with Pakistan are closed following clashes between the Taliban and the Pakistani army. The World Food Programme has stated that the continued border closure has led to higher food prices and increased pressure on Afghan families.