Afghan deputy PM off to Azerbaijan for ECO summit

A senior Taliban delegation led by Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy chief minister for economic affairs, has left for Azerbaijan to participate in the 17th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), scheduled for July 3 and 4.

Baradar’s office said in a statement that the delegation plans to meet with Azerbaijani officials to discuss bilateral relations and economic cooperation, Caliber.Az reports, citing Afghan media.

The summit brings together member states of the ECO, a regional intergovernmental organisation focused on economic, technical, and cultural collaboration among countries in Central and South Asia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus.

Baradar, who remains on a United Nations sanctions list, was granted a travel exemption in February for a trip to Uzbekistan. As of July 2, there was no publicly available information on the UN sanctions committee website indicating whether a similar waiver was issued for his visit to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan will host the 17th ECO Summit on July 3–4, in Khankendi, underscoring its commitment to advancing regional cooperation and sustainable development. The Summit will bring together ECO Heads of State and Government, ministers, observers, special guests from non-ECO countries, and leaders of international organizations, all united in their efforts to foster development and prosperity through fragile economic integration.

Complementing the Summit, a dynamic and inclusive ECO Week will take place from July 1–4, 2025, across multiple cities in Azerbaijan.

ECO Week will include thematic forums promoting youth engagement, gender inclusion, and economic connectivity. On July 1, the ECO Youth Forum will take place in Aghdam, followed by the ECO Women Forum in Lachin on July 2. The same day, the 6th Business Forum will be held in Fuzuli, focusing on investment and trade as drivers of sustainable development in the ECO region.

By Khagan Isayev