The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Uzbekistan says a meeting of the contact group of special representatives for Afghanistan will be held Monday, February 16, in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital.
The meeting will focus on regional coordination to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and strengthen economic cooperation with the country.
Beibut Atamkulov, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Uzbekistan, announced the meeting during talks with Ismatulla Irgashev, the Uzbek president’s special representative for Afghanistan.
According to a statement from the Kazakh Embassy, the two sides discussed prospects for cooperation with Afghanistan in trade, economic and humanitarian sectors, as well as the implementation of investment projects.
Atamkulov expressed appreciation for Uzbekistan’s efforts to support peace and long-term stability in Afghanistan and for its continued humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. He also stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian support and gradually integrating Afghanistan into regional trade and economic networks.
Irgashev, for his part, outlined Uzbekistan’s measures to provide humanitarian aid and economic support to Afghanistan. Regional security and stability were also discussed, with both sides expressing readiness to further expand Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan cooperation on Afghanistan-related issues.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, Central Asian countries particularly Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have adopted a pragmatic, risk-management approach toward Afghanistan. Although neither country has formally recognised the Taliban administration, their official and informal engagement with Kabul has increased significantly.
The contact group, made up of representatives from regional countries, was created to provide a mechanism for implementing decisions related to Afghanistan and strengthening cooperation to address the country’s humanitarian, political and economic challenges.
The first meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s contact group of foreign ministers on Afghanistan was held in New York in late September 2025.
