Tehran – IRAF – Javlon Vakhabov, Head of the Strategic Studies Center of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that he traveled to Kabul at the head of an official delegation and met with officials from the Strategic Studies Center of the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The main focus of the meeting was to review prospects for strategic cooperation between the two sides.
According to Vakhabov, the meeting was held in the presence of Abdolhai Qanet, the Taliban-appointed head of the Strategic Studies Center. The two sides exchanged views on how their research institutions could cooperate in advancing
In a post on the social media platform X, Vakhabov explained that the purpose of the talks was to strengthen intellectual and research cooperation and to create conditions for “filling Uzbekistan–Afghanistan relations with practical and implementable content.”
Another part of the meeting was devoted to exploring ways to increase public awareness about ongoing developments in both countries and the region, including measures to improve mutual understanding, shift perceptions, and facilitate future cooperation.
Vakhabov expressed hope that the discussions held during the meeting would be translated into concrete plans and initiatives in the coming year.
However, he did not provide details regarding the “strategic objectives” mentioned.
On the other side, the Taliban have not yet issued any statement regarding the meeting or the substance of the discussions.
Uzbekistan is among the countries that have adopted a pragmatic approach toward Kabul following the Taliban’s return to power.
Although Tashkent has not formally recognized the Taliban government, various delegations have traveled between the two countries in recent years, and Uzbekistan has accepted the ambassador appointed by the Taliban.
