The Taliban foreign minister stressed a “strong commitment” to expanding relations with Tajikistan during a meeting in Kabul with Tajikistan’s charge d’affaires, the Taliban foreign ministry said.
According to a statement by the ministry, Amir Khan Muttaqi met Saadi Sharifi, Tajikistan’s charge d’affaires resident in Kabul, where both sides discussed strengthening political, economic and trade cooperation.
Muttaqi said Afghanistan and Tajikistan, as neighbouring Muslim countries with deep cultural and linguistic ties, should make better use of opportunities to expand cooperation at all levels.
“No one can harm the friendly relations and atmosphere of trust between the two neighbouring countries,” he said, adding that the Taliban had a “strong commitment” to further broadening ties with Tajikistan.
Sharifi conveyed greetings and best wishes from Tajikistan’s foreign minister and briefed Muttaqi on progress related to previous agreements between Kabul and Dushanbe, the statement said.
He said Tajikistan was planning key economic projects along the shared border aimed at strengthening economic cooperation with Afghanistan and was seeking to expand relations in good faith and in line with current realities.
The two sides also discussed holding a joint economic committee, enhancing border and security cooperation, and coordinating plans between their foreign ministries in the coming year.
Tajikistan has not commented on the meeting so far.
Relations between the Taliban administration and Tajikistan have been strained since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with Dushanbe initially taking a critical stance toward the new rulers in Kabul and expressing concerns about security and the inclusion of ethnic minorities in governance.
However, contacts between the two sides have increased over the past year. Delegations have exchanged visits and held discussions focused on trade, transit and border security.
Last year, a Tajik delegation visited Kabul for talks on economic cooperation and cross-border trade, signalling a gradual thaw in ties despite lingering security concerns along the porous frontier.
Tajikistan shares a long and strategically sensitive border with Afghanistan, and both sides have repeatedly stressed the importance of stability and cooperation in managing cross-border security and economic links.
