Dr. Islomkhon Gafarov, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Afghanistan and South Asian Studies, gave an interview to Afghanistan International TV (AITV), an independent news outlet based in London and Washington. In his remarks, Dr. Gafarov analysed the evolving nature of Afghanistan’s relations with Central Asia under the Taliban’s rule.

 

Dr. Gafarov noted that the Taliban have significantly shifted their approach towards Central Asia, adopting a more pragmatic stance and emphasising anti-corruption measures. This, he argued, has opened space for deeper regional engagement.

 

He highlighted Uzbekistan’s proactive Afghanistan policy, which seeks to keep the Afghan issue on the international agenda. Afghanistan remains a key transit country for Uzbekistan’s access to South Asian ports such as Gwadar and Karachi. Since 2010, Tashkent has been a key proponent of the Trans-Afghan railway (Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar), which is expected to link Central and South Asia and contribute to Afghanistan’s economic recovery.

 

The expert also pointed to Kazakhstan’s recent decision to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations — a move that has enabled closer cooperation. Vice Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin now leads Kazakhstan’s Afghan policy. Two key drivers shape Astana’s approach: its growing role as a food supplier — having exported around 0.5 million tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan in 2023 — and its interest in using Afghanistan as a transit corridor to South Asian ports. Bilateral trade reached $1 billion last year, with targets to triple that figure.

 

Dr. Gafarov’s insights shed light on how regional actors are recalibrating their policies in response to Afghanistan’s changing internal and external landscape.

 

* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.