In November 1835, he joined a caravan at Orsk and in January 1836 reached Bukhara where he collected political intelligence and discussed trade and diplomacy with the Emir's officials. The visit's purpose was to find out if the Emir of Bukhara would remain neutral if Russia attacked the Khanate of Khiva, which they did in 1839. At Bukhara, he met Hussein Ali, a man who had been sent by Dost Mohammad Khan of Kabul to visit the tsar. He accompanied Hussein Ali to Orenburg and Saint Petersburg which they reached in July 1836. He served as an interpreter in Afghan-Russian discussions, which went on until May 1837.
