India hosted the first India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Afghanistan on 7 March 2023. According to Ministry of External Affairs of India, the meeting was attended by the Special Envoys/Senior Officials of India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Therepresentatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and the United […]
“The Taliban are a reality, so we are working with them” — Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov speaks to Izvestia
Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov spoke about this in an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia. Here we are producing a truncated version of the transcript of his interview. The link to the complete text is given at the end of this version. — In recent months, there has been a feeling that Moscow […]
Russia, Iran, Pakistan will do infrastructure projects worth USD one billion in Afghanistan – MOI signed with Taliban
Russia, Iran, and Pakistan have signed a memorandum of intent with the ministry of industry and trade of Afghanistan for eight infrastructure projects with total value of USD one billion, reports RIA Novosti. In addition to the ministry of industry and trade under the Taliban administration, the signatories to the four-party memorandum are the representatives […]
United Nations reminds that Afghanistan is still a grave humanitarian crisis – USD 4.6 billion required this year to assist Afghans
“Afghanistan remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in 2023, notwithstanding, of course, the recent devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria,” says Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan. He was speaking via the video link from Kabul to the journalists in New York on 28 February 2023. He said that climate […]
Afghanistan is building an enormous canal to draw water from Amudarya River. This may affect water availability situation in Central Asia.
nCa Report Afghanistan is rapidly building an enormous canal to draw water from the Amudarya River. This has the potential to affect the water availability situation to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The Qosh Tepa Canal, named after the Qosh Tepa district in the Jawzjan province, will be 285km in length and 100 meters in width. It […]
Taliban plan to turn former American-NATO military bases into special economic zones
The Taliban will convert the former American-NATO military bases into special economic zones. The announcement was made by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban deputy prime minister for economic affairs, as he chaired a meeting in Kabul on 19 February 2023. According to several media outlets including VoA, the office of Mulla Baradar has directed […]
Strengthening interregional cooperation and connectivity can improve the conditions for the development of the regions of Central and South Asia – the vision of Uzbek experts
With a total population of 1.9 billion (a quarter of the world) and a GDP of US $3.5 trillion, South Asia is the fastest growing region in the world (up to 7.5% per year). Today, its contribution to global economic growth is 15%, by 2040 it may exceed 30%. While maintaining the outpacing dynamics of […]
Turkmenistan urges the international community to continue promoting the processes of peaceful settlement in Afghanistan
On 13 February 2023, the delegation of Turkmenistan led by Mr. Atageldi Haljanov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the UN Office at Geneva has participated to the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) Alumni Regional Security Conversation on Central Asia and Afghanistan, the Turkmenistan Mission to UN Office at Geneva reports. The event gathered […]
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan renewed deal for the operation of the rail line Hayraton – Mazar-i-Sharif
The Afghan Railways Administration and the subsidiary of Uzbek Railways ‘Sogdiana Trans’ have signed a new agreement on the operation of the Hayraton–Mazar-i-Sharif railway. As reported by Uzbek Railways, the contract period is two years. Also, the parties agreed to step up efforts on restoration of cargo delivery to the Mazar-I-Sharif terminal station and to […]
UPDATED – Security council secretaries of regional countries held consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow
The fifth multilateral meeting of the secretaries of the Security Councils on Afghanistan took place in Moscow, the press service of the Russian Security Council says. It was attended by high representatives in charge of security issues from India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. “A number of additional practical measures were […]
Afghanistan seeks USD 65 million funding for power transmission project from Turkmenistan
Safiullah Ahmadzai, the operations director of Da Afghanistan Bareshna Shirkat (DABS), the power management authority of Afghanistan, said that work was underway on the power transmission line from Turkmenistan. The 500KV line which could carry 1000MW of electricity required up to $65 million, he added. He was speaking on 29 January 2023 in the news […]
UN special envoy meets Central Asian ambassadors in Kabul
UN Special Representative meets heads of diplomatic missions of Central Asian states in Kabul The UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ms. Roza Otunbaeva, had a meeting with the heads of Central Asian embassies in Kabul, reported AKIpress on 29 January 2023. The ambassadors of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan attended the meeting. It was organized […]
Roundtable in Almaty discusses women’s entrepreneurship development in Afghanistan
In a pioneering event, the first of its kind, a roundtable was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to discuss the development of women’s entrepreneurship in Afghanistan. It was organized jointly by the Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID) together with the UNESCO Chair at the Kazakh-German University (DKU) and the United Nations Development Program in Kazakhstan […]
Russia comments on ISIS presence in Afghanistan
At present, ISIS poses a serious threat to Afghanistan and the countries of the region, primarily Central Asia, stated Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov in an interview with the TASS. “The group seeks to gain a foothold on Afghan territory and discredit the current leadership of the country, demonstrating its inability to fully ensure […]
Turkmenistan and Afghanistan discuss several joint energy projects
Recently the Acting Minister of Energy and Water of Afghanistan Mulla Abdul Latif Mansoor and the Executive Chairman of Afghanistan’s National Power Utility (DABs) Alhaji Maulawi Muhammad Hanif Hamza visited Turkmenistan to extend the electricity supply contract and develop joint cooperation. According to Afghan Ministry of Energy and Water, the extension of the electricity contract […]
Russia is ready to participate in TAPI project in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Russia will participate in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) transnational gas pipeline project, if a proposal is received from partners. The statement came from the special envoy of the Russian President for Afghanistan, Director of the second Department of Asia of the foreign ministry Zamir Kabulov, TASS reports. He noted that the Russian president had previously stated […]
Russia declares willingness to engage in construction and operation of TAPI
Russia may take part in the construction and operation of the Turkmenistan– Afghanistan– Pakistan–India gas pipeline, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release following a recent visit of Moscow’s special envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov to Kabul. He held consultations with the foreign minister of Afghanistan Amir Muttaqi and other representatives of the […]
Delegation led by highest-ranking female official of the UN visits Afghanistan to discuss with the Taliban the ban on women in workplaces
A UN delegation led by Ms. Amina Mohammad arrived in Afghanistan on Wednesday, 18 January 2023. She is the deputy secretary general of the United Nations, the highest-ranking female official of the UN system. The delegation also includes the head of UN Women, Ms. Sima Bahous. The delegation had a meeting on Wednesday with the […]
Turkmenistan reportedly extends electricity supply contract with Afghanistan, will upgrade a substation and build 500 kV power line in Afghanistan
According to a press release by Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) the talks have been successful for the extension of the electricity supply contract from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan for the year 2023. The decision was reached to sign the PPA (power purchase agreement) in the near future after a meeting between Alhaj Mula Muhammad Hanif […]
Kazakhstan company gets contract to manage a railway line in Afghanistan
A company from Kazakhstan has won the contract to manage the Hairatan-Mazar-e-Sharif railway line of Afghanistan. The company called Mansour Fatih signed the contract with Bakht Rahman Sharafat, acting head of the Afghanistan railway authority on 4 December 2022, reports TOLO News. The annual value of the contract is USD 4.1 million. It covers the […]
National Security Advisers – Secretaries of the Security Councils of India and Central Asian countries met in New Delhi
On 6 December, New Delhi hosted the first meeting of national security advisers – secretaries of the Security Councils of India and Central Asian countries. Turkmenistan was represented at the meeting by Ambassador Shalar Geldynazarov. The officials discussed topical regional and international security issues, as well as the situation in Afghanistan, its impact on security […]
TAPI to become game changer in South East Asia
Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Project will become a game changer in South East Asia by bringing prosperity through 3.2 bcfd gas supplies to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Such an assessment is presented in the official documents of the Petroleum Division of Pakistan, available with ProPakistani news publisher. According to the source, the TAPI will help in […]
Afghanistan today – in just one graph from Gallup
Gallup, the global analytics and advice firm, has issued a powerful graph about Afghanistan. Just look at this: The lines in this graph scratch across heart, oozing out thick, purple pain. As to why Afghanistan is where it is today. What should have been done to avoid it and who should have done it —– […]
Turkmenistan renovated the building of health center in Faryab province of Afghanistan
As is known, Turkmenistan constructed the Health Center in the Garamgol district of Faryab province and put it into use in August 2009. On November 26, 2022, under the guidance of the Consulate General of Turkmenistan in Afghanistan (Mazari-Sharif), solemn official ceremony was held in connection with the full renovation of the Health Center by […]
Taliban welcomes the outcomes of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan
Taliban praised the recent Moscow Format Consultations’ emphasis to intensify efforts for the provision of humanitarian and economic assistance to the Afghan people in the post-conflict reconstruction of the country, according to the statement, issued by Islamic Emirate’s foreign ministry on meeting’s outcomes. “The Islamic Emirate welcomes positive regional mechanisms on Afghanistan and considers emphasis […]
Moscow format meeting on Afghanistan takes place without Afghan delegates
Elvira Kadyrova The participants of the fourth meeting of the Moscow format on Afghanistan called for the creation of an inclusive Afghan government and the early unfreezing of assets to overcome the socio-economic crisis in this country — both of these topics are not novel. The Kabul government’s inclusiveness, as understood by regional actors and […]
Turkmenistan voiced its position on the peaceful development in Afghanistan
Turkmenistan considers peace-building in Afghanistan from the point of view of the unity of its three main directions: political, economic and socio-humanitarian. This was stated on Monday (14 Nov) by Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev at a meeting with China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs Yue Xiaoyong. First of all, Turkmenistan stands for […]
Turkmenistan and Afghanistan discussed joint railway projects
Afghanistan and Turkmenistan railway administrations held Sunday, 9 October, online meeting to discuss the state of joint railway projects, the Afghanistan Railway Authority said in a press release. During the videoconference the sides had detailed discussions on topics such as speeding up the process of sending Afghan students to Turkmenistan, the implementation of projects of […]
TAPI Steering Committee to meet soon in Ashgabat
The CEO of the TAPI Pipeline Company Limited (TPCL) Muhammadmyrat Amanov and the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Afghanistan Hoja Ovezov met recently with Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, the Deputy PM for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan. The sides discussed the implementation of the agreed measures of the TAPI project between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan and the beginning […]
Kazakhstan once again extended a helping hand to Afghanistan
Kazakhstan once again demonstrates to the world community its commitment to the ideas of the UN and its readiness to provide humanitarian assistance to nations in need of support from caring countries. In accordance with the protocol of the Commission on International Charity of the Republic of Kazakhstan to victims of natural disasters, nine wagons […]
Tashkent as a negotiating platform on Afghanistan
Shukhrat Kobilov, Chief Researcher, International Institute of Central Asia Afghanistan’s economic recovery may be one of the main topics at the upcoming SCO summit in Samarkand. After the sudden complete withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, the role and importance of the SCO in normalizing the situation in this country has significantly increased. In this […]
Central Asian countries condemn the terrorist attack near the Russian diplomatic mission in Kabul
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have issued statements condemning the terrorist act that took place near the Russian Embassy in Kabul. The statements also call on the Afghanistan authorities to identify the organizers of the violence. Thus, the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan says the following: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs […]
Afghanistan steps up TAPI implementation
Afghanistan has set a committee to start the practical work on the TAPI pipeline project, said TOLO news. According to the Afghan foreign ministry, the committee will be led by the first deputy prime minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. A delegation of the Islamic Emirate will soon visit Turkmenistan, said the ministry. The negotiations will […]
Turkmenistan: process of peacebuilding in Afghanistan is based on the unity of three key areas – political, economic and social-humanitarian
On July 26, 2022, an international conference “Afghanistan: Security and Economic Development” was held in Tashkent. The forum was attended by official delegations, scientists and researchers, heads and experts of leading analytical centers of the neighboring states of Afghanistan, including from all countries of Central Asia, Russia, the USA, Iran, Pakistan, India and Belgium, heads […]
Tashkent Conference: International community calls for unfreezing Afghanistan’s assets
The outcomes of the Tashkent Conference on Security and Economic Development of Afghanistan, held on 26 July 2022, has been summed up in a final statement made by Uzbekistan, as the host country. “Participants reiterated the importance of unfreezing Afghanistan’s financial assets abroad, which should be directed by the country’s government to address socio-economic and […]
Afghanistan hosted a trilateral meeting on TAP energy project
Afghanistan’s main power generation and distribution operation, DA Breshna Sherkat hosted three days of comprehensive discussions with Turkmenistan and Çalik Holding delegations on numerous issues and status of the work of TAP and 500 kV projects, and some decisions were made on a series of issues at the end. According to DABS press release, the […]
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to build grain terminal on Turkmen-Afghan border
During a video conference on Monday (4 Jul), Deputy Prime Minister A.Yazmyradov reported on plans to build a grain elevator on the Turkmen-Afghan border on cost-sharing arrangement with Kazakhstan. Wheat and flour from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan and beyond to other countries will be shipped through this terminal. The elevator will be located on the territory […]
Turkmenistan sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
A humanitarian cargo sent from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan in connection with the devastating earthquake that occurred recently in the Afghan provinces of Khost and Paktika arrived in Kabul today. This action was carried out in accordance with the Order of the President of Turkmenistan, who immediately responded to the natural disaster that befell the fraternal […]
Official announcement on the establishment of an International Multifunctional Transport and Logistics Hub for Humanitarian Assistance on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Today, the threat of a humanitarian crisis is growing in many regions of the world, associated with the severe economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, disruption of global supply chains and logistics, as well as destructive climate change. The continuing grave humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is of particular concern. Today, the Afghan people are facing […]
Turkmenistan will provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan affected by the earthquake
On June 23, 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with the Charge d’Affaires of Afghanistan in Turkmenistan Mohammad Fazel Saber. Addressing the Afghan diplomat, the head of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry stressed that Turkmenistan had received the news of the devastating earthquake in the Afghan provinces of Khost and Paktika […]
Aqina-Andkhoy Railway Line Construction Resumed In Afghanistan
In accordance with the agreement signed earlier between the Turkmendemiryollary Agency and the Afghan Railway Organization, engineers and railroad specialists from Turkmenistan arrived on June 5, 2022, in the town of Aqina to continue the construction of the Aqina-Andkhoy railway line. Turkmen specialists also brought with them all the necessary machinery and equipment. In the […]
Kazakhstan hosted a meeting of Special Representatives of the EU and Central Asia on Afghanistan
On 30-31 May 2022, Almaty hosted a meeting of Special Representatives of the European Union and Central Asian countries on Afghanistan. The delegation of Turkmenistan was headed by deputy foreign minister Vepa Hajiev. During the event, the parties reviewed the current and new challenges to regional security in the context of the situation in Afghanistan. […]
Tour of the US State Department delegation to Central Asia – outcomes
nCa Analysis Last week, a US State Department delegation led by Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asian Affairs Donald Lu visited four Central Asian countries – Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. He was accompanied by the National Security Council’s Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia Eric Green, Deputy Assistant Secretary of […]
Russian Foreign Ministry praised cooperation with Central Asia on blocking external terrorist threats
Elvira Kadyrova Russia and Central Asian allies have established a “good level of cooperation” on countering threats originating from Afghanistan. This statement came from Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov during his interview with the TASS news agency on Thursday, 26 May. The capacities and potential of the Russian security services allow “successfully countering all […]
Taliban – No security threats for TAPI
The Taliban government in Afghanistan remains committed to the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India transnational gas pipeline project. “Negotiations are underway on this [TAPI], we really want the work on the TAPI project to continue,” Jamal Nasir Garhwal, Charge d’affaires of Afghanistan in Russia, said in an interview with RIA Novosti. According to the diplomat, currently […]
Afghanistan has denied the spread of misinformation that it allegedly plans to stop cooperation with Uzbekistan Railways JSC
On April 12-14, Termez hosted a meeting of the heads of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan railway departments. According to the official website of JSC “O’zbekiston temir yo’llari”, the delegation of Afghanistan was led by the head of the Afghan Railways Bakhtulrahmon Sharafat. The Afghan side expressed gratitude for the measures taken by the Uzbek side to […]
Third Ministerial Meeting of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries – Outcomes
Elvira Kadyrova On 31 March 2022, the third ministerial conference of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries took place in the Chinese city of Tunxi, which was attended by Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Heads of participating delegations: Russia – minister of foreign affairs Sergey Lavrov China – chairman of the meeting – state councilor, […]
MFA China: More details on Afghanistan’s Neighboring Countries meeting
Elvira Kadyrova During regular press conference on Monday, 28 Mar, foreign ministry of China briefed on upcoming ministerial conference of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries: State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the third Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan in Tunxi, Anhui on 30-31 March 2022. Foreign Ministers or representatives […]
Chinese Foreign Minister visits Afghanistan
Elvira Kadyrova Beijing has moved from political statements to actions, which is eloquently demonstrated by Wang Yi’s visit to Kabul a day after OIC event in Islamabad. Afghanistan is one of the painful wounds on the political body of the Islamic world. In Kabul, Wang Yi held talks with Deputy Prime Minister in the Taliban […]
China to host ministerial conference of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries
On 31 March 2022, Tunxi, China, will host the third ministerial conference of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, including Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the coordination of regional efforts on humanitarian and socioeconomic assistance to Afghanistan. The parties will compare approaches to countering the threats of […]