Taliban Seeks Closer Cooperation with Central Asia in New Multilateral Political Mechanism
The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry has announced that at the conclusion of the Afghanistan and five Central Asian countries consultative meeting, a multilateral political mechanism was agreed upon by officials from both sides, emphasizing its continuation and strengthening. The meeting, initiated by the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, was attended by officials and diplomats from Central Asian nations.
According to the released statement, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Taliban, called for the development of a joint “roadmap” by researchers from Afghanistan and Central Asia to form a unified perspective on various issues, especially security matters. The statement noted that this mechanism should remain actively sustained to provide a platform for joint discussions on security challenges, trade and transit cooperation, as well as coordination in economic sectors.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of joint cooperation to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. Representatives from Central Asian countries welcomed this initiative and pledged to work towards implementing the proposals presented.
The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry added that the representatives of these countries expressed interest in expanding economic, trade, and transit relations with Afghanistan and endorsed efforts against terrorism and trafficking. However, regional security concerns continue to be major challenges in Kabul’s relations with its northern neighbors.
