Yousuf Sharifzada, Tajikistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, met with Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, to discuss developments in Afghanistan, according to a statement from Tajikistan’s consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, focused on Tajikistan’s role in promoting peace and stability in the region, particularly in light of the evolving situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power.
The discussions centered on Afghanistan’s military-political, economic, and social conditions, reflecting shared concerns about the region’s security. Both sides emphasized the importance of the CASA-1000 electricity project, a major initiative that seeks to enhance energy cooperation between Central and South Asian countries, including Tajikistan and Pakistan.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, both Pakistan and Tajikistan have voiced concerns about the increasing presence of terrorist organizations operating within the country. Groups such as al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are reportedly using Afghanistan as a base, a situation that officials from both nations see as a threat to regional and global security.
Despite these warnings, the Taliban has repeatedly denied the presence of such groups in Afghanistan, claiming that Afghan soil poses no danger to neighboring countries. However, the United Nations has issued multiple reports contradicting these claims, identifying the presence of more than 20 terrorist organizations operating within Afghanistan.
The meeting highlights the continuing regional efforts to address the security challenges posed by Afghanistan’s unstable environment, as both Pakistan and Tajikistan seek to coordinate their responses to these growing threats.
