Uzbekistan’s State Security Service head meets Taliban officials in Kabul

On July 22, a delegation led by Bakhodir Kurbanov, Chairman of the State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held talks in Kabul with Abdul Haq Wasiq, head of the Intelligence Service of the Taliban interim government in Afghanistan. The meeting was reported by the State Security Service.

During the discussions, both sides highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region and to further integrate Afghanistan into the international community. Particular attention was given to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s statements on Afghanistan at the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and other international forums.

The Uzbek side emphasized that bilateral negotiations between the two countries are actively continuing in agriculture, irrigation, energy, transport, trade, and other areas. Kurbanov also noted that, at the initiative of the Uzbek president, work is being carried out to implement economic and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan and to provide humanitarian assistance as part of regional cooperation.

The talks also addressed border security, the improvement of entry-exit regimes at border points, and joint efforts to combat drug trafficking and terrorism.

On the same day, the Uzbek delegation also met with Mullah Muhammad Yakub, acting Minister of Defense in the Taliban interim government, and Sirojiddin Haqqani, acting Minister of Interior.

It is noteworthy that on July 17, Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov also visited Kabul, where he held talks with Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, and Khalifa Sirojiddin Haqqani, acting interior minister. That day also saw the first trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, during which officials signed a trilateral agreement to develop the technical and economic framework of the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan Trans-Afghan Railway. Saidov also met with Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, acting prime minister of the Taliban interim government.