Central Asia Seeks Active Role for Afghanistan in Regional Cooperation

The Diplomat magazine has reported that following the Taliban administration’s return to power, Central Asian countries have sought to expand their relations with Afghanistan. These relations have now moved beyond a sole focus on security and economics to include political, transit, and developmental dimensions.

According to the report, the initial interactions between the parties primarily concentrated on containing security threats and enhancing economic cooperation. However, in this new phase, issues such as regional connectivity, transit projects, and political participation have become more prominent. This shift in approach comes as Afghanistan continues to face serious internal challenges and restrictions due to the Taliban administration’s lack of official international recognition.

Meanwhile, Jalal Vahdov, an advisor to the President of Uzbekistan, emphasized at the first Central Asia and Afghanistan Think Tanks meeting in Kabul that Afghanistan must play an active role in regional cooperation. He stated that Afghanistan should not merely be seen as a “discussion topic” or “case file,” but rather as a partner and collaborator in regional initiatives.

Vahdov noted that during the meeting, organized by the Strategic Studies Center in Kabul, the necessity of a participatory view towards Afghanistan was stressed, along with the call for effective Afghan involvement in designing and executing joint regional projects.

Previously, Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Taliban administration, in the first Afghanistan-Central Asia consultative dialogue, had said that the current level of cooperation should advance to a deeper and more sustainable stage. However, experts believe achieving this goal requires establishing internal stability, expanding constructive engagement with the world, and addressing regional and international concerns.