Uzbekistan Official Meets Taliban Research Head to Discuss Scientific Cooperation

Jawlan Vakhobov, Ambassador and Head of the International Central Asia Institute, met with Abdulhai Qanat, Head of the Strategic Studies Center at the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the current state of Afghanistan-Uzbekistan relations and potential areas for expanding joint cooperation.

According to a newsletter published by the International Central Asia Institute, both parties focused on future opportunities to develop ties between Tashkent and Kabul and explored ways to strengthen scientific and research collaboration. The meeting also emphasized increasing interaction between research centers of the two countries.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has sought to play a more active role in regional developments, especially concerning Afghanistan. Scientific and academic cooperation could form part of this approach; however, within Afghanistan, extensive restrictions on academic and scientific activities — particularly for women — remain a significant obstacle to the genuine development of the research sector.

While the Taliban administration speaks about expanding regional relations, experts stress that creating an open scientific environment and equal access to education and research is an essential prerequisite for any productive research cooperation at the regional level.