Photo: ИА "Дунё"

Uzbekistan Appoints Oybek Usmanov as New Ambassador to Afghanistan

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Uzbekistan has appointed Oybek Usmanov as its new ambassador to Afghanistan, Uzbek media reported.

According to Uzbekistan Daily, Mr. Usmanov arrived in Kabul today (Monday, October 28) and has begun his official duties. Usmanov succeeds Yodgorhoja Shadmanov, who served as Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan since 2012.

Usmanov previously held the position of ambassador to Pakistan from 2020 until this year and has also served as Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Egypt. He has worked within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1998.

This appointment follows Uzbekistan’s move in February to transfer Afghanistan’s embassy in Tashkent to the Taliban’s representatives, highlighting Uzbekistan’s close diplomatic and trade ties with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan has been one of the few Central Asian countries actively engaging with the Taliban on regional security and economic collaboration.

Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, no country has formally recognized them as Afghanistan’s government. However, several regional countries, including Uzbekistan, have sustained or reestablished diplomatic missions in Afghanistan. Russia, China, the UAE, Qatar, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and India also continue to maintain diplomatic presence, with a few, like Uzbekistan, handing over embassy operations to Taliban-appointed envoys.

International organizations and global powers, including the UN, have stated that the normalization of relations with the Taliban is contingent upon their adherence to human rights, counterterrorism efforts, and progress toward an inclusive government.