Uzbekistan – Afghanistan: Government to government diplomacy

Under current global dynamics, Uzbekistan calls on the world community to develop a unified strategy towards Afghanistan. However, for one reason or another, the world community does not pay serious attention to the issue of Afghanistan. In such conditions, Uzbekistan seeks to develop relations at the bilateral level. Now relations are acquiring diplomacy at the government level. 

On February 22-23, a delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Barodar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, arrived in Tashkent. While Uzbekistan has not formally recognized the Taliban government, its engagement exemplifies a regional trend of de facto normalization.  

For instance, the visiting Taliban officials were welcomed at the airport by their previously appointed ambassador Sheikh Abdul Ghafar Bahr. Appointing the ambassador was a rare diplomatic achievement, which only occurred with the UAE and China. 

This recent visit of Taliban envoys might be a strategic political response for Abdulla Aripov, the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, visiting Kabul on 2024, 17 Aug, which is the first highest-level visit by a foreign official since the Taliban returned to power. In Kabul, Abdulla Aripov and Taliban officials secured $2.5 billion worth of trade and investment deals. Given the recent discussions between Jamshid Khodjaev, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Trade and Investment, and Taliban delegates, it is likely that this figure will continue to grow. 

Mullah Abdul Ghani Barodar called on Uzbekistan’s central bank to provide banking assistance to strengthen commercial ties between the two countries. He also proposed the use of national currencies in mutual trade to streamline financial transactions. 

In addition, Uzbek officials stated that they are prepared to establish a joint commercial zone with the Emirate, primarily focused on manufacturing and transporting pine nuts, cotton, and consumer goods. 

Beyond trade, Uzbekistan has also expressed willingness to invest in Afghanistan’s natural resources, including establishing a cement factory in Samangan province and initiating the Toti Maidan gas field project. Another key focus of recent discussions has been the '500 kV power transmission' project, which has now been revised to a lower cost of $222 million, down from the original $252 million. The majority of energy transmission will be from Surkhan, Uzbekistan to the Dasht-E Alwan area in Afghanistan. 

Mullah Abdul Ghani Barodar emphasized the importance of expediting such types of projects. He has been assuring the Uzbek side that the Islamic Emirate would provide full support for their successful implementation, such as pledging to ease the restrictions related to licensing and visa processing; economic and trade activities, and dispatch engineers to analyze the feasibility of the Afghan-Trans initiative. A comprehensive exchange of views took place on further expanding the partnership and its consistent development in trade and economic, energy, transport, and other sectors. 

Taliban government would be able to achieve its legitimacy and recognition in the global arena through economic joint initiatives and obtaining economic, and geopolitical weight in the global interdependency zone. Mullah Abdul Ghani Barodar during his visit, met with Afghan investors and businessmen living in Uzbekistan. Uzbek and Afghan investors have been keen on investing in firms, and infrastructures in each other's territory. 

This was evident in the efforts of Afghan investors residing in Uzbekistan to increase their investment in Afghanistan up to $100 million. Moreover, bilateral diplomacy between the two governments further enhanced its leverage when Uzbekistan was the first country to officially raise the flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan alongside the national flag of Uzbekistan during the visit of a delegation. This gesture, symbolizing growing diplomatic acceptance, reflects Uzbekistan’s pragmatic approach to regional stability and economic cooperation with Afghanistan.

To conclude, the recent visit by Taliban delegates to Uzbekistan has deepened intergovernmental ties and set the stage for more integrated regional cooperation. Although those activities will support the integration of two border nations, this growing cooperation could also intensify competition among major regional players China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran toward the Afghan government as an economic and political partner. 

Firdavs Azimkuov