Taliban Envoy Attends Joint Conference of Afghan and Uzbek Scholars in Tashkent
Sheikh Abdul Ghafar Bahr, the Taliban administration’s ambassador to Uzbekistan, participated in a joint conference of Afghan and Uzbek scholars held in Tashkent. The event was hosted by the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan. During the conference, he emphasized the importance of the shared scientific and jurisprudential heritage between the two countries.
According to him, such gatherings can, beyond reinforcing intellectual and religious ties, also play a role in strengthening political trust and expanding bilateral relations. He described these meetings as platforms for bringing perspectives closer and enhancing interactions between the scientific institutions of both nations.
In part of his remarks, the Taliban envoy praised Imam Burhanuddin Marghinani, the author of the book “Al-Hidayah,” as a symbolic figure of moderation and balanced thought. He added that expanding academic cooperation could lay the foundation for mutual understanding and regional stability.
These statements come amid the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to broaden regional relations, despite still lacking recognition from a significant portion of the international community. Experts believe that scientific and cultural engagements could be part of soft diplomacy aimed at reducing the political isolation of the Taliban administration, although human rights challenges and internal restrictions continue to overshadow its foreign relations.
