Afghanistan Weekly

1.5 years after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the country has seen a sharp and devastating decline in all aspects of human life. Meanwhile, the sudden withdrawal of US and allied forces from Afghanistan created an opportunity for other regional actors to step in and fill the void by acting as major investors, donors, or strategic, business, and energy partners with Afghanistan's new ruling class.

"Afghanistan Weekly Monitor" follows and documents the most recent developments in Afghanistan's relations with its neighboring states, including the five Central Asian countries, China, and Iran, as well as broader developments in the Eurasian landscape that affect the country's economic and socio-political future.

Turkmen Environmental Expert Raises Alarm on Taliban Canal Project; Afghan Embassy in Dushanbe Remains Loyal to the Collapsed Government; CSTO Officials Evaluate Afghan-Tajik Border. /3.4.23

_{Amu Darya and Qosh Tepa Canal. Image source: The Kabul Times}

This past week, a Turkmen environmental expert shared concerns over the Taliban’s massive canal project in Balkh province, a staff member of the holdout Afghan embassy in Dushanbe explained Afghanistan’s complex position in Tajikistan, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization discussed and assessed the security situation on the alliance’s southern border.

: 03 April 2023

Taliban Officials Visit Consulate in Tajikistan; Uzbek Special Representative Sits with Taliban Leaders to Discuss Concerns; Canal Project Troubles Tashkent. /26.03.2023

_{Excavation for the Qosh Tepa Canal project. Image source: Afghan government}

This past week, the first official Taliban visit to Tajikistan took place, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan discussed energy and infrastructure issues, and a major canal project worried the Uzbek government.

: 26 March 2023

UNHCR Outlines Afghan Refugee Program Budget For 2023; Uzbek Military Trains on Afghan Border; Kazakh-Afghan Dialogue Deepens. /19.03.2023

_{Afghan refugees. Image source: AFP}

This past week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees called on states to increase their contribution to a program dedicated to Afghan refugees, Uzbekistan conducted military-preparedness drills on its border with Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan’s ambassador sat down with the Taliban foreign minister.

: 19 March 2023

Central Asia & India Talk Afghanistan; China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, & Russia Establish Group for Afghanistan Engagement; China Blames US Seizure of Afghan Assets for Instability; Iran and Uzbekistan Collaborate with Outreach. /12.03.23

_{Representatives of China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia standing for a photo in Tashkent on March 7. Image source: Reuters}

This past week, Central Asian states attended conferences in Tashkent and New Delhi to discuss collective strategies toward Afghanistan, China called on the United States to unfreeze Afghan assets, and Iran and Uzbekistan diplomats engaged in dialogue concerning Afghanistan.

: 12 March 2023

US Sec of State Blinken Talks Afghanistan in Central Asia; WFP Opens New Aid Center; Islamic Food Organization Based in Kazakhstan Plans Aid for Afghanistan; Russian Energy Deal Lowers Fuel Prices in Afghanistan. /06.03.2023.

_{Petrol Station in Kabul. Image source: RFE/RL}

This past week, the US secretary of state discussed Afghanistan with Central Asian leaders, the World Food Program opened a new center on the Uzbek-Afghan border, Kazakhstan reaffirmed its support for the Islamic Organization of Food Security’s operations toward Afghanistan, and a Russian-Afghan energy deal bore fruit for average Afghans.

: 06 March 2023

Russia to Undertake Infrastructure Projects in Afghanistan; Smuggled Grain from Kazakhstan Find its Way to Afghanistan; CSTO Concerned about Stability on Afghan-Tajik Border. /28.02.2023

_{At the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border. Image source: Liter.kz}

This past week, Taliban negotiators settled with Russian, Iranian, and Pakistani companies on an infrastructure project consortium, concerns about the smuggling of grain from Kazakhstan to Afghanistan were raised, and the CSTO commented on its attention toward terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.

: 28 February 2023

Central Asia Observes 34th Anniversary of Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan; Turkmenistan to Increase Rail Traffic to Afghanistan; Vandalized Statue Troubles Uzbekistan. /20.02.2023

_{Service members lay a wreath of flowers in Panfilov park. Image source: Zakon.kz}

This past week, Central Asian veterans of the Soviet-Afghan war observed the 34th anniversary of the conflict’s official end, the Taliban government struck yet another rail deal, and diplomacy between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan remained chill.

: 19 February 2023

Russia, Central Asia, China Ponder Afghan Future; Russia to Build Power Plant in Afghanistan; Abkhazia Seeks Friendship with Afghanistan; Uzbek & Afghan Railroad Authorities Resolve Dispute. /12.02.2023

_{Taliban delegates at a previous meeting of the “Moscow Group” on Afghanistan. Image source: AP}

This past week, Russia, the Central Asian republics, China, Iran, and India met in Moscow to discuss Afghanistan’s future under the Taliban, Russia announced its intention to invest in Afghan energy infrastructure, Abkhazia reached out to Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan and Afghanistan’s railroad authorities signed a new contract.

: 12 February 2023

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Afghanistan Weekly