DUSHANBE, Tajikistan — European Union and Central Asian envoys gathered in Dushanbe for the sixth meeting of special representatives and envoys on Afghanistan, discussing the country’s evolving socio-economic, political, and security situation, the EU mission in Tajikistan said.
The discussions focused on human rights concerns, particularly the treatment of women and girls, as well as ongoing security threats in Afghanistan since their last meeting in February 2024.
The EU’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, attended the meeting and also held talks with Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister, Sirojiddin Muhriddin. Both sides underscored the fragile situation in Afghanistan and the importance of regional stability, while exploring potential pathways for addressing shared challenges.
Since the U.S. withdrawal and the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Central Asian nations have taken different approaches to engaging with Afghanistan’s new rulers.
Uzbekistan was the first to re-establish contacts with the Taliban. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan later removed the Taliban from their lists of banned organizations after accepting Taliban diplomatic credentials. Turkmenistan has largely maintained its policy of neutrality in regional affairs.
Despite these engagements, the EU and regional governments have continued to express concerns over widespread human rights violations, particularly those affecting women and girls, as well as the growing threats posed by terrorist groups operating under the Taliban’s rule.
