Afghanistan-Central Asia consultative meeting held to boost trade, security ties

The first Afghanistan-Central Asia consultative meeting opened in Kabul on Sunday, hosted by Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bringing together senior diplomats from the five Central Asian nations to discuss political, economic and security cooperation.

High-ranking delegates from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan joined Afghan officials for talks expected to cover political, economic and security issues, as well as ways to boost trade, transit connectivity and broader cooperation, deputy spokesman for the foreign ministry Hafiz Zia Ahmad posted on his X account.

"The pragmatic, opportunity-oriented and cooperation-focused approach of the Central Asian countries toward Afghanistan, emphasizing political engagement and economic and transit cooperation, represents a successful model of mutual trust and collaboration at the regional level," Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi said during the meeting.

Muttaqi added that the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is grounded in the principles of balance and economic centrality, with a strong emphasis on Islamic brotherhood, good neighborliness, mutual respect and cooperation. He said the Central Asian states occupy a special place in that policy.

The meeting marks a significant diplomatic engagement for the Afghan government, which has sought to deepen economic ties with Central Asia amid ongoing international isolation on political recognition.