Uzbek Delegation Meets Taliban in Kabul Amid Lack of Official Recognition

DID Press: A high-level Uzbek delegation has traveled to Kabul to engage with Taliban officials on strategic objectives and regional cooperation, despite Tashkent’s continued refusal to formally recognize the Taliban government.

Javlon Vakhabov, head of the Strategic Studies Center at Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry, said the delegation met with counterparts at the Taliban’s Strategic Studies Center. The discussions focused on exploring avenues for strategic collaboration and strengthening research and policy cooperation between the two sides.

According to Vakhabov, both parties exchanged views on leveraging research institutions to advance joint agendas in bilateral and regional affairs. He noted that the meetings aimed to “fill Uzbekistan-Afghanistan relations with practical and implementable initiatives” and to enhance public awareness and mutual understanding regarding developments in both countries and the region.

While specific strategic goals were not disclosed, Vakhabov expressed hope that the discussions would translate into concrete projects and initiatives in the coming year.

The Taliban government has yet to comment on the visit. Tashkent has maintained a pragmatic approach toward Kabul in recent years, facilitating frequent exchanges between delegations and accepting the Taliban’s appointed ambassador, even in the absence of formal diplomatic recognition.