KABUL (SW) – Experts assert that Central Asian countries are advocating for international engagement with the Islamic Emirate primarily for economic reasons.
Following requests from these nations to Germany for interaction with the de-facto Islamic Emirate government, analysts note that they aim to support the current situation in Afghanistan to protect their economic interests.
Central Asian countries seek to encourage global cooperation with the Islamic Emirate to ensure the security of trade and transit routes through Afghanistan.
On Tuesday, September 17, leaders from Central Asia and Germany met in Kazakhstan to discuss enhancing multilateral cooperation.
The final statement from this meeting emphasized the continuation of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Reports indicate that leaders from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan called for greater leniency from the world, particularly Germany, in engaging with the Islamic Emirate.
Turkmenistan president Serdar Gurbangulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow, who recently witnessed the launch of four major joint projects with Afghanistan, urged the international community to support a “peaceful Afghanistan and accept it as an economic partner”.
International relations expert Wali Frozan, says, “Central Asian countries have mineral resources they want to market globally, and Afghanistan provides a short and effective route. They desire security in Afghanistan to facilitate this, and a unified government is essential.”
A political analyst Atiqullah Matin also shares his perspective: “Afghanistan is strategically significant for trade and transit, connecting Central Asia to South Asia. If security is ensured in Afghanistan, these countries will benefit, while instability in Afghanistan will harm their interests.”
There has not been any comment from the Islamic Emirate authorities.
Conversely, some analysts argue that for Afghanistan to emerge from its current isolation, the Islamic Emirate must address internal issues independently, aiming for stability without relying on external support.
“The Islamic Emirate should strive to create conditions for recognition and not wait for countries to engage or not engage with Afghanistan. Ultimately, any engagement is driven by their nation’s interests, not those of the Afghan people,” said another political analyst Abdul Shakur Dadras.
It is noteworthy that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has indicated that, due to the current political situation in Afghanistan, the country is not prepared to engage with the Islamic Emirate.
