Regional Contact Group Holds Special Meeting on Afghanistan in Astana
A special meeting of the Regional Contact Group on Afghanistan was recently held in the city of Astana. Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan discussed ways of regional engagement and cooperation with Afghanistan.
Yerkins Tokumov, Kazakhstan’s Special Representative of the President for Afghanistan Affairs, announced that his country is shifting its approach towards Afghanistan. According to him, Astana no longer views Afghanistan solely through the lens of security threats but seeks to adopt an opportunity-oriented perspective towards the country.
He emphasized the need to strengthen political, economic, trade, and transit relations, stating that Afghanistan can serve as a strategic bridge between Central Asia and South Asia. Geographically, Afghanistan is positioned to facilitate the connectivity of regional markets and transit networks.
Meanwhile, Ismatullah Ergashov, Uzbekistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Affairs, stated that the Central Asian countries plan to advance their joint projects in Afghanistan and expand regional cooperation.
The holding of this meeting indicates the emergence of a consensus among Afghanistan’s neighbors to leverage opportunities for regional cooperation and partnership. These countries hope that by developing joint projects, they can contribute to regional stability, economic integration, and the advancement of sustainable development programs in Afghanistan.
