nCa Analysis An Afghan delegation, led by the Taliban acting minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, recently visited Kazakhstan. The 350-strong delegation of Afghanistan participated in the business forum, showcased its products and services, and had numerous meetings. The outcome was the signing of business agreements worth about USD 200 million. — It was […]
О чем договорились Казахстан и Афганистан на встрече в Астане
Автор: Анеля Касымова 3 Августа 2023, 18:43 АСТАНА. КАЗИНФОРМ – В Астане в эти дни проходит казахстанско-афганский бизнес-форум. В столицу Казахстана прибыли более 200 предпринимателей Афганистана из разных отраслей экономики, передает корреспондент МИА «Казинформ». Открыли встречу заместитель Премьер-Министра – министр торговли и интеграции РК Серик Жумангарин и министр коммерции и индустрии Афганистана Нуриддин Азизи. «Казахстан […]
What did Kazakhstan and Afghanistan agree on at the meeting in Astana?
Author: Anelya Kasymova 3 August 2023, 18:43 ASTANA. KAZINFORM – A Kazakh-Afghan business forum is being held in Astana these days. More than 200 Afghan entrepreneurs from various sectors of the economy arrived in the capital of Kazakhstan, Kazinform correspondent reports. The meeting was opened by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Trade and Integration of the […]
Визит делегации движения “Талибан” по содействию торговле и инвестициям в Казахстан
Лидеры бизнеса из Казахстана и Афганистана встретились в Астане 2 августа 2023 года, чтобы обсудить торговые и инвестиционные возможности. Делегацию движения “Талибан” возглавляет Азизи Нуриддин, министр торговли и промышленности Афганистана. Афганистан является крупным импортером казахстанской муки и растительного масла, и объем взаимной торговли между двумя странами составляет около 1 миллиарда долларов. Правительство Казахстана заинтересовано в […]
Движение “Талибан” модернизировало знаки и символику на границах с соседними странами
Правительство движения “Талибан” завершило реализацию плана по модернизации пограничных знаков и символики на границе с Ираном, Туркменистаном, Узбекистаном, Таджикистаном и Китаем. Об этом упомянул исполняющий обязанности министра по делам границ и племен Ноорулла Нури в своем ежегодном докладе, сообщают афганские СМИ. Он сказал, что смена знаков и символики была произведена в соответствии с указом лидера […]
Taliban have modernized signs and symbols at borders with neighbouring countries
The Taliban government has completed the plan to modernize the border signs and symbols with the countries of Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. This was mentioned by Noorullah Noori, the acting minister of Borders and Tribes, in his annual report, reports the Afghan media. He said that the change of signs and symbols was […]
Taliban delegation on trade and investments promotion visit to Kazakhstan
The business leaders from Kazakhstan and Afghanistan met in Astana on 2 August 2023 to discuss trade and investment opportunities. The Taliban delegation is led by Azizi Nuriddin, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a major importer of Kazakh flour and vegetable oil, and the two countries have a mutual trade volume […]
Astana to host USA+CA session on Afghanistan
Thomas West, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan, and Rina Amiri, the Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights, will travel to Astana, Kazakhstan, and Doha, Qatar, from July 26 to 31, says US State Department. In Astana, they will meet with their counterparts from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan […]
Central Asia in the Taliban Era | A Conversation with George F. Kennan Fellow Mélanie Sadozaï
By Mélanie Sadozaï on July 10, 2023 2022: Cross-Border Bridge between Tajikistan and Afghanistan Q: Describe your background and what brought you to the Wilson Center. I received my PhD in International Relations at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations in Paris in October 2022. My PhD research was on the cross-border activities between Tajikistan and […]
Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan agreed to keep up engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government to maintain stability and prevent a humanitarian crisis
On 13 April 2023, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the fourth ministerial conference of the conference of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, the foreign ministers of the regional “quartet” countries including Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan held a second informal meeting on Afghan issues. The parties agreed to continue building a coordinated and consolidated regional […]
“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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Neutrality, holistic approach defines Taliban visit to Turkmenistan
Tariq Saeedi A Taliban delegation led by Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, visited Turkmenistan on 14-15 January 2022. The core meeting was held with DPM Rashid Meredov (foreign affairs) of Turkmenistan in the narrow and expanded formats. According to the press release of the foreign office of Turkmenistan (published separately): “Particular attention […]
FMs of the neighboring countries of Afghanistan met in Tehran
Elvira Kadyrova On 27 October 2021, the second meeting of the foreign ministers of the countries bordering Afghanistan took place in Tehran, Iran. The foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan attended in hybrid format the ministerial meeting. The disastrous withdrawal of the US-NATO troops from Afghanistan and the subsequent rise […]
Interim Government of Afghanistan confirmed commitment to close cooperation with Turkmenistan
Elvira Kadyrova On Monday, 13 September 2021, Deputy Prime Minister, minister of foreign affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov held online talks with the Second Deputy Prime Minister of the interim government of Afghanistan Abdul Salam Hanafi, twitted the spokesman of the political office of the Taliban, Mohammad Naeem. According to Naeem, the Turkmen foreign minister […]
Don’t poke the runny jelly cube of Afghanistan with your fork. Let it set firmly.
Tariq Saeedi Afghanistan, at present, is like a jelly cube that is still runny, that has still not set firmly. Poking it with a fork will crush it. Everyone is disappointed for reasons that are prominently divergent. Those who anticipated and predicted a civil war are disappointed that it has not materialized as yet. Those […]
Afghanistan: The questions we don’t want to confront are the questions that will haunt us
Tariq Saeedi Thousands of lives lost. More than a trillion dollars down the drain. Millions of refugees. Millions more internally displaced. Twenty years of pain and misery, ending with humiliation for the only Superpower in this sham world order. This is Afghanistan. There is a wide array of questions emanating from Afghanistan. These are the […]
Pakistani FM visited Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
Elvira Kadyrova Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi embarked on touring neighbor countries of Afghanistan. He has already visited Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on 25 August 2021 and will call on Turkmenistan and Iran. Here are some details of the visits, as informed by the foreign ministry of Pakistan and other official sources: Tajikistan Foreign […]
Russian Foreign Ministry: Taliban widely restores order in Afghanistan and intends to promote dialogue with other political leaders
Elvira Kadyrova Russia is ready to support Afghanistan in launching an interethnic dialogue with the aim of forming a new inclusive government and criticizes former President Ghani for missing this chance while in power in Kabul. Moreover, it is proposed to engage the Moscow-led format, which includes Central Asian countries as well. The updated detailed […]
Pakistani FM intends to visit the neighbors of Afghanistan
Elvira Kadyrova On 25-27 August 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, is likely to visit the countries bordering Afghanistan. This was reported by several Pakistani media, citing diplomatic sources. The main purpose of the visit to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran will be discussion of the situation in Afghanistan during […]
Consul General of Turkmenistan in Mazar-i-Sharif met with the provincial chief of Taliban
Today, on August 18, the Consul General of Turkmenistan in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif met with the head of the representative office of the “Taliban” movement in the province of Balkh. During the meeting held in a positive and constructive manner, a number of concrete issues were discussed in relation to the implementation of duties […]
Three media statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan on the situation in Afghanistan
Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan on the situatuon in Afghanistan The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan continues to closely monitor the development of the situation and events in Afghanistan. In this regard, the Turkmen side emphasizes that, based on the principles of friendship and good-neighborliness, as well as based on […]
First news conference of Taliban after takeover – Some relevant points for Central Asia
nCa Report His name was known to anyone who had even the slightest interest in Afghanistan but no one had seen him. He has been the spokesman of the Taliban for more than 20 years. It was on 17 August 2021 that Zabihullah Mujahid made his first appearance before the media, and the world, when […]
How Russia and China assess the change of power in Afghanistan – US keep on rush escape
Elvira Kadyrova Russia is closely monitoring the development of the situation in Afghanistan after the transition of power in this country to the Taliban Movement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The press release has emphasized the change of power occurred almost in the terms of complete absence of resistance from the national armed forces trained […]
Afghanistan: Why the Taliban takeover was so fast and bloodless – what next now
Tariq Saeedi and Elvira Kadyrova Everyone is in disbelief at the speed at which the Taliban took control of Kabul. How? Just how? — The short answer: They found the path of least resistance. Here is the somewhat longer, though still incomplete, answer. The conditions were ripe Ghost army, ghost police The official figures put […]
Taliban states NO intention to violate the borders with Central Asia
Elvira Kadyrova The Taliban will not violate the borders of the Central Asian states bordering Afghanistan, and provide security guarantees for the foreign diplomatic and consular missions based on the territory of the country. This statement came from the representatives of the Taliban Movement on 8 July during consultations in Moscow with Zamir Kabulov, the […]
Strategy and tactics of Taliban as they fan out across Afghanistan after the US pullout
Tariq Saeedi President Joe Biden finally swallowed the bitter pill as he spoke from the East Room of the White House on 8 July 2021. Announcing that the withdrawal of the American forces from Afghanistan will be completed by 31 August 2021, he virtually admitted the defeat in the 20-year war. After 20 years of […]
Russia not dramatic about situation in Afghanistan, is ready to protect its Central Asian allies from the ISIS threat – the USA shapes its future presence in Afghanistan
Elvira Kadyrova The main threat to the security of Central Asia is not the Taliban, but ISIS, which has been intensified in Afghanistan, warns Russia, being engaged in countering such threats. “It is important not to lose sight of Afghanistan, where ISIS is concentrating its forces. They are doing so using the way too drawn-out […]
Taliban visit of Turkmenistan – the need to underpin the correct perspective
Tariq Saeedi A high power delegation of the Taliban, led by the head of its political office in Qatar, Molla Abdul Ghani Baradar, recently visited Turkmenistan. They met the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, on 6 February 2021. At our website and in the News Bulletin we have reported on […]
Taliban delegation led by Molla Abdul Ghani Baradar visits Turkmenistan
On February 6, 2021, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, a meeting was held between the leadership of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry and the delegation of the Political Office of the Taliban Movement, led by the head of this office, Molla Abdul Ghani Baradar. During constructive negotiations, the sides stressed the importance of […]
Делегация талибов во главе с моллой Абдул Гани Барадаром посетила Туркменистан
6 февраля 2021 года в Министерстве иностранных дел Туркменистана состоялась встреча руководства туркменского внешнеполитического ведомства с делегацией Политического офиса Движения «Талибан», возглавляемой руководителем данного офиса Моллой Абдул Гани Барадаром. В ходе конструктивных переговоров стороны подчеркнули важность установления и поддержания мира и стабильности в Афганистане. В связи с этим было особо отмечено, что Туркменистан в течение […]
Свистопляски вокруг афганского мира
Тарик Саиди Положение мрачно уникальное даже для Афганистана, страны, где темные уникальные ситуации возникают почти ежедневно. Несколько недель назад надежды на мир в Афганистане были так реальны, но все надежды были задушены последующими событиями. Мирное соглашение между талибами и США, подписанное в Дохе 29 февраля 2020 года, определило четкий график вывода американских войск из Афганистана, […]
Afghan government nominates delegation for negotiations with Taliban – Taliban reject it
The government of Afghanistan nominated on Friday a 21-member delegation including five women for negotiations with the Taliban. The head of the delegation was Masoom Stanakzai, the former head of the secret service. The Taliban have rejected the delegation on the grounds that it is not fully representative of the Afghan society and is not […]
Macabre dance around peace in Afghanistan
Tariq Saeedi The situation is darkly unique even for Afghanistan, a country where darkly unique situations bubble up almost every day. The hope for peace in Afghanistan was so real a few weeks ago but it is getting smothered by the events that have piled up thick and fast. The peace agreement signed between the […]
Taliban and Central Asia – Part 2
Tariq Saeedi Even though the shadows over the prospects for peace in Afghanistan are darkening by the day, there is great hope from all sides that the US-Taliban peace deal will reach its intended objective. If and when the peace prevails in Afghanistan, Taliban are more than likely to be an important part of the […]
Taliban and Central Asia – Part 1
Tariq Saeedi The ink on the peace agreement signed between the USA and the Taliban on 29 February 2020 in Doha had barely dried when the disruptive noises started emerging to defeat the likelihood of peace in Afghanistan. We all know who doesn’t want peace, and why, but for now there is the need to […]
American-Taliban Agreement – Preamble to Peace in Afghanistan
Tariq Saeedi The simplicity of language and the brevity of text show the clarity of mind from both sides. It is a genuine attempt to wrap the longest war of the American history in less than four pages of plainly defined commitments, and the steps that must be taken to rebuild peace in Afghanistan. The […]
Afghanistan – At the threshold of lasting peace, or brink of insane violence?
Tariq Saeedi After more than 18 months of off-again, on-again negotiations, the Taliban and the USA could possibly sign the peace accord on 29 February 2020. Although the terms of the deal have not been made public officially, it is possible to guess some of the details based on the information from the various Taliban […]
Situation at Turkmen-Afghan border – fact versus fiction
nCa Analysis Some things are evergreen. One of them is the desire of certain quarters to see disturbance at the Turkmen-Afghan border. The Russian officials and media are the main proponents of the myth that there is some kind of disturbance at the Turkmen-Afghan border. From time to time other countries add their voice to […]
Pakistan is striving for peace in Afghanistan
Tariq Saeedi Sometimes it is necessary to state the obvious. Sometimes it is necessary to question the obvious. This is essential because our perceptions define the reality for us —– and, in most cases we acquire our perceptions through interaction with the media – all kinds of media – and not our direct interaction with […]
Taliban support TAPI
nCa Commentary Ashgabat, 23 February 2018 (nCa) — TAPI enters its second phase of implementation today as the launch ceremony takes place in two part – first part in Serhetabat district of Turkmenistan, and the second part in Herat city of Afghanistan. President Berdymuhamedov of Turkmenistan, President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan […]
آج کی خبر
جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ سابق چیف آف آرمی سٹاف پاکستان Email: friendscolumn@hotmail.com آج کے ایک اردو اخبار کی مندجہ ذیل خبر آپ کے پیش نظر ہے جس کی افادیت14 اپریل 2017ء کو ماسکو میں ہونے والی بارہ ملکی کانفرنس میں ثابت ہوگی اور ہمارا موقف درست ثابت ہوگا کہ طالبان ہی وہ واحدقوت ہیں جو […]