Uzbek border customs-free zone symbol of boosted ties with Taliban | AFP

In a new customs‑free zone on the dusty Uzbek‑Afghan border, Taliban representative Sayed Zaher Shah is pleased with his country's rapidly growing trade links in the region. Airitom, which only opened last year, hosts around 300 businesses, restaurants, a library, conference halls, a Hilton hotel, and a state‑of‑the‑art medical centre. Afghan nationals can travel visa‑free for up to 15 days to Uzbekistan. "Afghanistan will, in any case, connect with the whole world, especially its neighbours," says Zaher Shah.