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Central Asia should keep developments in Afghanistan under permanent focus: Tajik president
Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, said on Thursday that the five Central Asian nations should keep the developments in Afghanistan under “permanent focus”.
During the meeting of the heads of Central Asian states in Kyrgyzstan, Rahmon added that since taking over the country, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) leaders have failed to provide assurances to the international community.
Leaders from five Central Asian nations have ended a summit in the Kyrgyz resort town of Cholpon-Ata with a pledge to increase cooperation to strengthen the region, RFE/RL reported.
According to the outlet, another focus of the meeting was the situation in Afghanistan where IEA is nearing the first anniversary of its takeover of the country following the withdrawal of foreign forces in August 2021.
Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon said the five nations should keep the developments in the war-torn nation under “permanent focus” as they may affect geopolitical situation in Eurasia in general.
“According to our prognosis, the situation in Afghanistan may go from bad to worse. Since taking over the country, Taliban (IEA) leaders have failed to provide assurances to the international community, Afghan citizens with security, or solve social and economic challenges,” Rahmon said.
The IEA, however, says that Afghanistan’s borders have been secured more than ever before. Recently, the security forces arrested several perpetrators of the rocket attack on Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in Kunduz province, and three of them were killed during the operation.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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