US magazine says Afghanistan security crisis is blocking Central Asia cooperation
The American magazine The National Interest has said in an article titled “US policy in Central Asia faces an Afghanistan problem” that resolving Afghanistan’s political and security crisis is the main precondition for achieving Washington’s goals in Central Asia.
The article noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Uzbekistan and his meeting with representatives of the five Central Asian countries on the sidelines of the C5+1 summit showed renewed US attention to the region. But security concerns, including terrorism, drug trafficking and border insecurity, could hinder the expansion of cooperation in trade, investment, mineral resources, energy and transit routes.
The National Interest stressed that Afghanistan’s stability and Central Asia’s economic development are interdependent, and that major regional projects such as energy transfers and the creation of trade roads between Central and South Asia cannot be realised without security and stability in Afghanistan.
The article also pointed to the expansion of ties between Russia and the Taliban administration, saying that after Moscow recognised the Taliban administration in July 2025, the ground for political and military-technical cooperation between the two sides expanded, which could make regional security calculations more complicated, especially for Pakistan.
The US magazine described restrictions on women, an exclusive political structure, and the absence of an inclusive political agreement in Afghanistan as among the most important obstacles to long-term stability in the country. For this reason, it suggested that Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, the Central Asian republics, India, Pakistan, Russia, China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia should take part in a regional dialogue to strengthen security and economic cooperation.
The article concluded that the region’s economic routes will only reach their full potential if Afghanistan emerges from its current crisis, as Central Asia’s prosperity depends on the security and stability of the country.
Meanwhile, the Taliban administration has repeatedly said that Afghan territory will not be used against any country, especially neighbouring states, and that it will not allow armed groups to use Afghan soil against others.
