Uzbekistan has agreed to keep supplying electricity to Afghanistan, reaffirming its role as a key energy partner at a time when the country continues to face major infrastructure and power shortages. The decision highlights ongoing cooperation between the two neighbours despite Afghanistan’s economic challenges and the broader regional uncertainties surrounding energy projects.
Uzbekistan has long been one of Afghanistan’s main electricity suppliers, helping meet the country’s growing demand for power in urban and rural areas. Officials from both sides have emphasized that maintaining a steady supply is essential for Afghanistan’s daily life, industrial activity and public services. With the Afghan power grid still heavily dependent on imports, long term arrangements with neighbouring countries remain critical for stability.
Taliban authorities welcomed Uzbekistan’s decision, saying that predictable electricity imports will help prevent severe outages that have disrupted businesses and households in the past. Afghanistan’s energy sector remains fragile, and domestic power generation is still unable to meet national consumption needs. Ensuring continued access to external electricity has therefore become a strategic priority for the administration in Kabul.
Earlier this year, Taliban officials also said that the CASA 1000 regional energy transmission project is expected to be completed within one to two years. The project aims to transport surplus hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan through Afghanistan and into Pakistan. Once operational, CASA 1000 could reshape energy flows in the region and strengthen Afghanistan’s role as a transit country for electricity trade.
However, analysts note that the timeline may depend on security conditions, funding consistency and the ability of all participating countries to complete their sections of the transmission line. Even with these challenges, progress on CASA 1000 remains a significant hope for improving the region’s energy connectivity.
Uzbekistan’s renewed commitment comes as Afghanistan continues to navigate a series of economic and humanitarian pressures. Reliable electricity supply affects everything from hospital operations and refrigerated medicines to school systems and small businesses. Energy shortages in previous years have led to long blackouts, causing widespread frustrations among residents and limiting economic growth.
The agreement also reflects Uzbekistan’s broader strategy of building stable relations with its neighbours through economic cooperation and infrastructure partnerships. Energy trade has been one of the main pillars of its regional diplomacy, and officials in Tashkent have said they aim to expand these ties in the coming years.
For Afghanistan, long term electricity imports provide temporary relief while the country explores ways to improve its own generation capacity. Local authorities continue to express hopes that international energy projects like CASA 1000 will eventually reduce reliance on imports and open new opportunities for transit revenues.
As both countries move forward, the continuity of electricity supplies remains a crucial link in maintaining stability and supporting everyday life for millions of Afghans.
