Tehran- IRAF- The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Uzbekistan, in a released statement, announced that the upcoming meeting of the “Contact Group of Special Representatives of countries involved in Afghan affairs” will take place on February 16, 2026 in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
Based on this announcement, the timing and agenda of this meeting were reviewed during the recent meeting between Ismatullah Ergashev, Uzbekistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, and Bibut Atamkulov, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Tashkent.
During this meeting, the two sides discussed the latest economic developments, the humanitarian situation, and challenges facing Afghanistan.
The agenda and objectives of the upcoming Contact Group meeting, including regional coordination for managing the humanitarian crisis and strengthening economic cooperation with Afghanistan, were also discussed.
The officials of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan emphasized in this meeting that integrating Afghanistan into the trade and economic structures of Central Asia is one of the main prerequisites for creating lasting stability in the region and the economic development of neighboring countries.
According to them, neglecting Afghanistan’s transit and economic potential could have extensive security and economic consequences for the entire region.
It is worth noting that more than three years after the Taliban’s return to power, Central Asian countries—especially Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan—have adopted a pragmatic and risk-management-oriented approach towards Afghanistan.
Although none of these countries have officially recognized the Taliban government, the level of formal and informal interactions between the parties has increased.
