The Uzbekistan foreign ministry has said that the special representatives of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries are convening in Tashkent to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan.
Attended by representatives from China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, the Uzbek foreign ministry said in a tweet on 7 March, they are to discuss “cooperation of the parties in establishing long-term peace and stability.”
Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, Afghanistan’s neigbours have conducted multiple meetings in Moscow, Tehran, Islamabad, and Tashkent, where they have emphasised the importance of forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
It is unclear whether the Taliban has been invited to the meeting. And neither has the group commented.
Although no country has officially recognised the Taliban, Afghanistan’s neighbours have maintained a significant diplomatic presence in Kabul and have continued to engage with the group.
Last month, and despite protestations from opposition groups, including the armed National Resistance Front (NRF) Iran accepted the Taliban’s diplomat and facilitated the Afghan embassy’s handover.
