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Uzbekistan hoping to engage with IEA without alienating the West
Uzbekistan has emerged as a key interlocutor with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), engaging with Kabul on a wide range of issues but without officially recognizing the new government.
In doing so, it has enabled Uzbekistan to explore new opportunities for economic cooperation with Afghanistan without upsetting the international community, VOA reported Friday.
Ismatulla Irgashev, special representative to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, told VOA in an interview that his government is “working closely” with the IEA.
“We have long established solid contacts, talk regularly, [and] discuss cooperation,” he said.
Uzbekistan sees the IEA “as a reality that must be accepted,” he said.
“Imagine what happens if we don’t engage. … More conflict, another civil war, more blood, poverty, suffering, threats to the neighbors and the international community,” he stated.
Reflecting on President Mirziyoyev’s description of Afghanistan as an integral part of Central Asia, Irgashev said, “We see a common future with immense common interests, no matter who is in power there.”
Uzbekistan has meanwhile become a key hub for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, a move acknowledged by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in March.
Mirziyoyev recently dispatched a delegation to Washington, urging more assistance to Afghanistan. Irgashev claimed Tashkent has persuaded the European Union to return diplomats to Kabul and hopes the US will ultimately take similar steps, VOA reported.
“The Taliban (IEA) don’t want to be isolated,” Irgashev said. “They want international recognition.”
Despite calling for greater engagement with the IEA, Irgashev said Tashkent is committed to moving ahead with formal recognition but only in tandem with the international community.
“We will not recognize them alone,” he said. “When it happens, we want a collective voice and stand.”
The United Kingdom deported only 123 Afghan asylum seekers last year, representing around two percent of the total number of Afghans whose asylum applications were rejected, according to a report by The Telegraph.
The figures highlight the limited number of returns despite a larger pool of unsuccessful applicants, underscoring the challenges facing British authorities in enforcing deportations.
The report notes that the vast majority of rejected Afghan asylum seekers remain in the UK, as legal, political, and logistical barriers continue to complicate their removal.
Discussions have been ongoing within the British government about potential arrangements to return failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan. However, no large-scale deportation framework has yet been implemented.
The issue forms part of a broader debate in the UK over migration policy, particularly as the government faces pressure to address rising numbers of asylum seekers while balancing legal and human rights considerations.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Tariq Ali Bakhit, has called for continued international engagement and urgent economic support for Afghanistan during a high-level donor community meeting held in Istanbul.
The three-day meeting of Afghanistan Coordination Group, held from April 28 to 30, brought together international stakeholders to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with a focus on humanitarian needs and economic stability.
Addressing participants, Ambassador Bakhit said Afghanistan is currently facing a critical phase that requires sustained global attention and practical, immediate measures to ease human suffering and stabilise the country’s economy.
He stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian assistance, particularly in food security and healthcare, while also calling for coordinated efforts to ease restrictions on banking channels. According to the envoy, improving financial access and supporting alternative livelihoods are key to preventing further economic decline and helping Afghan families cope with ongoing challenges.
Bakhit also highlighted the role of OIC-affiliated institutions and partners in supporting early recovery efforts, including the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Organization for Food Security, and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
He concluded by reaffirming the OIC’s commitment to continued constructive dialogue and cooperation with international partners aimed at promoting stability and laying the groundwork for Afghanistan’s long-term recovery.
A new charity, the Rahmanullah Gurbaz Welfare Foundation, has been officially inaugurated in Kabul. The initiative was established by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a member of Afghanistan’s national cricket team.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Gurbaz said the foundation aims to expand access to education and healthcare services while also creating employment opportunities for Afghans. He stressed that meaningful progress in the country depends on collective effort and shared responsibility.
“The core purpose of this foundation is to promote education,” he said. “An educated person is enlightened, while someone deprived of education is like a person without sight.”
Participants at the event also underscored the importance of investing in education as a pathway to national development. Mujib-ur-Rahman Baheer, head of Ariana News, welcomed the initiative and called for greater focus on learning and academic advancement across the country.
Meanwhile, Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, emphasized that such initiatives must be genuine and transparent, warning that they should not serve symbolic purposes or personal interests but instead deliver real benefits to the public.
The launch comes at a time when Afghanistan continues to grapple with economic hardship and overlapping crises, including poverty, natural disasters, and the return of migrants—factors that have significantly increased the need for sustained humanitarian support.
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