Uzbekistan officially accepted the Taliban ambassador

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with the new head of the Taliban government’s diplomatic mission, Abdul Ghaffar Teravi.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan reports that the authorities warmly welcomed the new diplomatic representative of Afghanistan.

During the meeting, the head of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry emphasized the need for comprehensive development of relations between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, as well as “the realization of untapped potential, the development of new projects that serve the interests of the peoples of both countries.”

Uzbekistan has previously cooperated closely with the Taliban, including establishing diplomatic relations, albeit unofficially. It may be the first country in the world to officially accept an ambassador from the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

Russia and China have also established semi-official diplomatic relations with the Taliban and accepted an ambassador from Afghanistan.

Among the Central Asian countries, only Tajikistan has taken a tough anti-Taliban stance. The Tajik authorities have sharply criticized the Taliban movement everywhere, including from high world and international platforms.

Currently, the Tajik authorities have somewhat softened their tone and begun cooperating with Kabul. In particular, the Afghan consulate in Khorog, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, has been handed over to Taliban diplomats and has begun its diplomatic activities.

It was previously reported that the Tajik government restricted the activities of the Afghan opposition, for example, the Tajik authorities closed the Dushanbe office of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud.

Experts note that the growth of trade and economic relations between Dushanbe and Kabul, the ban on the activities of anti-Taliban forces in Tajikistan, and the softening of the Tajik authorities’ tone indicate that official diplomatic relations will soon be established between the current Afghan government and the government of Emomali Rahmon.