Afghanistan Contact Group Meeting Set to Take Place Tomorrow in Astana

The meeting of the ‘Contact Group of Special Representatives of Countries Involved in the Afghanistan Issue’ is scheduled to take place tomorrow (Monday) in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. It is reported that the current situation in Afghanistan and the framework for regional cooperation with Kabul will be the main topics of discussion.

This meeting comes as regional countries have, in recent months, attempted to reach a common understanding on engagement with the Taliban administration and the political and economic future of Afghanistan. However, issues such as managing internal crises, forming an inclusive political structure, and securing the rights of Afghan citizens remain key subjects in the international community’s discourse.

The first meeting of this contact group was held in the month of Dey 1402 (January 2024) in Kabul. That meeting included Taliban representatives, special envoys, and ambassadors from neighboring and regional countries, where they discussed political and economic cooperation.

Additionally, prior to this, officials from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan had an official meeting on January 16 to discuss Afghanistan’s potential role in regional connectivity initiatives. A significant topic at that meeting was advancing the nationwide railway project in Afghanistan—a project that, if realized, could play a crucial role in linking Afghanistan to regional transit networks.