Taliban and Uzbekistan Agree to Form Joint Technical Group to Combat Drug Trafficking

Officials from the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior and Uzbekistan have agreed to establish a joint technical group aimed at strengthening cross-border coordination and combating drug trafficking. The decision follows a high-level meeting between Taliban Deputy Minister for Counter-Narcotics Abdul Rahman Munir and Uzbek Interior Minister Aziz Tashpuladovich held in Uzbekistan.

During the discussions, both sides emphasized the need for enhanced operational cooperation to intercept narcotics moving across their shared border. The newly formed technical group will focus on improving information sharing, coordinating interdiction efforts, and addressing logistical challenges in counter-narcotics operations. Uzbek officials reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing security collaboration with Afghanistan, noting that sustained joint efforts are essential to disrupting smuggling networks.

The agreement comes amid increased enforcement activity on the Uzbek side of the border. Uzbek authorities have recently intercepted hundreds of kilograms of narcotics smuggled from Afghanistan, including separate seizures of 38 kilograms and 72 kilograms. These operations have underscored the necessity for structured bilateral mechanisms to track and dismantle trafficking routes.

Both ministries indicated that the technical group will begin work immediately, with further details on its operational structure and meeting schedule to be finalized in the coming weeks. The initiative reflects a broader regional focus on addressing the cross-border movement of illicit substances through coordinated law enforcement and intelligence sharing.