Kazakhstan Appoints Special Representative For Afghanistan
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed a special representative for Afghanistan, marking a renewed diplomatic focus on engagement with the country under Taliban rule.
Yerkin Tokumov, an experienced diplomat and academic, was named to the post by direct order of the president, according to an official statement from the presidential office. Tokumov has previously served at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, working under the supervision of the president.
Born in 1973, Tokumov holds advanced degrees in international relations and philosophy, and has long been involved in foreign policy and regional affairs.
While Kazakhstan does not officially recognise the Taliban government, it maintains ongoing diplomatic and economic relations with the group. In January 2024, Kazakhstan removed the Taliban from its list of designated terrorist organisations, signalling a shift in its approach to Afghanistan.
