Central Asian contact group meets in Astana on Afghanistan security and economic issues

Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry stated that an extraordinary meeting of the regional contact group of special representatives from Central Asian countries on Afghanistan, focusing on security issues and regional cooperation, took place on Sunday at the ministry.

The Taliban was not invited to the Astana meeting. Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan attended and discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and ways to strengthen practical cooperation with the Taliban.

Kazakhstan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Yerkin Toktomov, said Kazakhstan supports a constructive exchange of views and the search for practical solutions for interaction with Afghanistan.

According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry statement, the parties also examined topics including developing trade and economic cooperation, expanding transit and transport corridors through Afghanistan, and regional security challenges.

Participants emphasized the importance of coordinating the efforts of Central Asian countries to strengthen stability and security in Afghanistan.

At the conclusion of the meeting, members expressed readiness to continue regular consultations and maintain working contacts within the framework of the regional contact group.

The previous round of special representatives' meetings from Central Asian countries, initiated by Uzbekistan on August 26 in Tashkent, included representatives from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. That meeting emphasized establishing a contact group at the level of special representatives on Afghanistan.

The purpose of creating this contact group is to establish an independent regional platform for regular and targeted dialogue on issues of common interest to regional countries.