Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Ambassador Meets Kazakh Counterpart in Ankara

Saniullah Farhmand, ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Ankara, met with Yerkinbolat Onalbekuly Sapiyov, Kazakhstan's ambassador to Turkey.

According to a statement from the Afghan Embassy in Turkey, the two sides emphasized expanding and strengthening bilateral ties between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan in political, economic, and cultural sectors. They exchanged views on ways to develop joint cooperation.

Political expert Yusuf Amin Zazi said: "What is very important for us is our neighboring countries. This is very important for us, and this should be in the first line and primary goals of countries' ties. Later, alongside that, they can have relations with distant countries and the world, and the countries of our region have a basic role and directly impact the ties we have with the world and international community."

Several political and economic experts have stressed expanding political and economic ties with neighboring countries, especially Kazakhstan.

Political expert Enayatullah Hamam said: "Kazakhstan is one of the basic partners of the TAPI project. In this connection, in the region, compared to other Central Asian countries, it has an independent policy. It has a strong desire to bring the energy resources at its disposal to the Indian subcontinent, and for this reason, it needs to have closer ties with Afghanistan."

Economic expert Qutbuddin Yaqubi told ToloNews: "Kazakhstan, given the relations and facilities currently provided in Afghanistan, in the current conditions, from the position and stance that the region requires, plays its role."

Previously, representatives of Central Asian countries at an extraordinary meeting of the Regional Contact Group in Astana said they are working on a common strategy toward Afghanistan, viewing the country not as a threat but as an opportunity for access to South Asian markets.