TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s deputy chief minister, in a meeting with Uzbek deputy prime minister Jamshid Khodjayev called on Uzbekistan to deepen its cooperation with their administration, particularly in sectors such as mining, trade, agriculture and transportation, according to a statement.
Khodjayev assured the Taliban of Uzbekistan’s readiness to collaborate on joint initiatives in mining, agricultural development, trade, and facilitating the transit of goods, the Taliban statement said.
Uzbek officials have not commented on the meeting.
This comes as Hanafi’s name is on the United Nations blacklist, which bans him from traveling abroad.
Uzbekistan’s ties with Taliban
Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, Uzbekistan has maintained pragmatic relations with the Taliban, focusing on regional stability and economic cooperation.
Despite this engagement, Uzbekistan, like other countries, has not formally recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government.
In October, Uzbekistan formally accepted Abdul Ghaffar Baher as the Taliban’s ambassador, signaling its willingness to continue dialogue.
The international community has repeatedly called on the Taliban to form an inclusive government, sever ties with extremist groups, and uphold human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls.
