1.5 years after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the country has seen a sharp and devastating decline in all aspects of human life. Meanwhile, the sudden withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan created an opportunity for other regional actors to step in and fill the void by acting as major investors, donors, or strategic, business, and energy partners with Afghanistan's new ruling class.
"Afghanistan Weekly Monitor" follows and documents the most recent developments in Afghanistan's relations with its neighboring states, including the five Central Asian countries, China, and Iran, as well as broader developments in the Eurasian landscape that affect the country's economic and socio-political future.
This past week, a Turkmen environmental expert shared concerns over the Taliban’s massive canal project in Balkh province, a staff member of the holdout Afghan embassy in Dushanbe explained Afghanistan’s complex position in Tajikistan, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization discussed and assessed the security situation on the alliance’s southern border.
This past week, the US secretary of state discussed Afghanistan with Central Asian leaders, the World Food Program opened a new center on the Uzbek-Afghan border, Kazakhstan reaffirmed its support for the Islamic Organization of Food Security’s operations toward Afghanistan, and a Russian-Afghan energy deal bore fruit for average Afghans.
This past week, the first official Taliban visit to Tajikistan took place, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan discussed energy and infrastructure issues, and a major canal project worried the Uzbek government.
This past week, Taliban negotiators settled with Russian, Iranian, and Pakistani companies on an infrastructure project consortium, concerns about the smuggling of grain from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan were raised, and the CSTO commented on its attention toward terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
This past week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees called on states to increase their contribution to a program dedicated to Afghan refugees, Uzbekistan conducted military-preparedness drills on its border with Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan’s ambassador sat down with the Taliban foreign minister.
This past week, Central Asian veterans of the Soviet-Afghan war observed the 34th anniversary of the conflict’s official end, the Taliban government struck yet another rail deal, and diplomacy between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan remained chill.
This past week, Central Asian states attended conferences in Tashkent and New Delhi to discuss collective strategies toward Afghanistan, China called on the United States to unfreeze Afghan assets, and Iran and Uzbekistan diplomats engaged in dialogue concerning Afghanistan.
This past week, Russia, the Central Asian republics, China, Iran, and India met in Moscow to discuss Afghanistan’s future under the Taliban, Russia announced its intention to invest in Afghan energy infrastructure, Abkhazia reached out to Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan and Afghanistan’s railroad authorities signed a new contract.