*The Taliban administration is in the final stages of talks in Moscow overthe terms of a contract for Afghanistan to purchase gasoline and benzenefrom Russia, Afghan commerce ministry officials told Reuters.*

Habiburahman Habib, the spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Commerceand Industry, confirmed that an official delegation chaired by the commerceministry was in the Russian capital and finalising contracts for suppliesof wheat, gas and oil.

“They are in negotiation with the Russian side,” he said in a message toReuters, adding they would share details once the contracts were complete.

A source from the office of the Minister of Commerce and Industry toldReuters technical officials from his ministry and the Ministry of Financehad stayed in Moscow to work on the contracts after a ministerialdelegation visited this month.

“We are working on text of contract, (we have) almost agreed on gasolineand benzene,” said the official, adding they expected it to be finishedsoon.

Spokespeople at Russia’s foreign and energy ministries did not respond torequests for comment.

The contracts come after a Taliban delegation led by the acting commerceminister visited Russia in mid-August to hold talks on trade.