Uzbekistan Seeks Stronger Cooperation with Afghanistan (Syed Fazl-e-Haider – The Jamestown Foundation)

Tashkent is positioning itself as a mediator between Taliban-led Afghanistan and the international community, advocating for integration rather than isolation since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021. Uzbekistan aims to turn Afghanistan into a strategic trade hub, offering access to South Asian markets and ports while promoting economic integration through infrastructure, transit routes, and trade expansion. Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have signed numerous agreements to grow bilateral trade to $3 billion, expand electricity cooperation, and establish a joint market and free economic zone, reinforcing interdependence and economic stability.

Uzbekistan Seeks Stronger Cooperation with Afghanistan – Jamestown