At the first consultative dialogue meeting between Afghanistan and Central Asian countries in Kabul, Maulavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the expansion of political, economic and transit cooperation and announced efforts to develop a comprehensive roadmap for regional cooperation, saying: "Last year, trade with Central Asia reached $2.7 billion and we are trying to reach this figure to $10 billion in the next four years."
Publish dateMonday 6 April 2026 - 08:39
Story Code : 349999
Muttaqi at Afghanistan-Central Asia Summit:
Drawing a roadmap for comprehensive regional cooperation is on the agenda / Trade with Central Asia will reach $10 billion in four years
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: The first consultative dialogue meeting between Afghanistan and Central Asian countries was held in Kabul today, Sunday, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and attended by Mawlawi Amir Khan Mottaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and high-ranking representatives of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
In his remarks at the meeting, Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Mottaqi welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of this initiative as a multilateral political consultative mechanism, saying that the meeting was held with the aim of exchanging views on regional developments, strengthening diplomatic coordination, and seeking practical ways to expand cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, transit, and regional connectivity.
Referring to the progress of the last five years, he stated that Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries have taken effective steps to strengthen bilateral relations and regional cooperation, and now the “narrative of opportunity and convergence” has replaced the confrontational approaches. According to him, the pragmatic approach of the Central Asian countries towards Afghanistan is a successful example of regional trust-building.
The Foreign Minister stated that the main objectives of the meeting were to strengthen political dialogue, identify new opportunities for cooperation, and exchange views on regional developments, and expressed hope that as a result of the meeting, a comprehensive roadmap for cooperation in the political, economic, security, and environmental fields would be developed.
In another part of his speech, referring to the developments in the international system and regional challenges, Mottaqi emphasized that Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries need coordinated management of common challenges and effective use of capacities to achieve development and prosperity.
He also emphasized the deep historical, cultural, and religious ties between Afghanistan and the countries of the region, and considered these commonalities to be the basis of sustainable relations between the parties.
The Foreign Minister described the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate as balanced and economically oriented, adding that the Central Asian countries have a special place in this policy. According to him, Afghanistan’s current interactions with these countries are a successful example of constructive diplomatic relations.
He went on to point out common security challenges, including threats from ISIS, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and organized crime, and said that Afghan security institutions have taken the necessary measures in this regard, and currently, the security situation on the common borders is satisfactory.
Mottaqi also pointed to domestic achievements, announcing the provision of nationwide security, reduction of administrative corruption, progress in digitalization, and prohibition of drug cultivation, adding that these measures have paved the way for economic growth and attracting foreign investment.
Stating that the volume of Afghanistan's trade with Central Asian countries reached about $2.7 billion in 2025, he said that a goal has been set to increase this figure to $10 billion in the next three to four years. According to him, sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, health, telecommunications, and infrastructure projects are among the important areas of investment.
The Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of regional projects including Afghan-Trans, TAPI, CASA-1000, Lapis Lazuli Road, and transit corridors, and said that Afghanistan is trying to use its geoeconomic position to become a bridge connecting Central Asia with South and West Asia.
It is worth noting that he also put forward several specific proposals, including continuing consultative meetings, holding joint research meetings, developing a common security approach, coordinating trade and transit cooperation, and cooperating in combating climate change.
In his remarks at the meeting, Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Mottaqi welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of this initiative as a multilateral political consultative mechanism, saying that the meeting was held with the aim of exchanging views on regional developments, strengthening diplomatic coordination, and seeking practical ways to expand cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, transit, and regional connectivity.
Referring to the progress of the last five years, he stated that Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries have taken effective steps to strengthen bilateral relations and regional cooperation, and now the “narrative of opportunity and convergence” has replaced the confrontational approaches. According to him, the pragmatic approach of the Central Asian countries towards Afghanistan is a successful example of regional trust-building.
The Foreign Minister stated that the main objectives of the meeting were to strengthen political dialogue, identify new opportunities for cooperation, and exchange views on regional developments, and expressed hope that as a result of the meeting, a comprehensive roadmap for cooperation in the political, economic, security, and environmental fields would be developed.
In another part of his speech, referring to the developments in the international system and regional challenges, Mottaqi emphasized that Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries need coordinated management of common challenges and effective use of capacities to achieve development and prosperity.
He also emphasized the deep historical, cultural, and religious ties between Afghanistan and the countries of the region, and considered these commonalities to be the basis of sustainable relations between the parties.
The Foreign Minister described the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate as balanced and economically oriented, adding that the Central Asian countries have a special place in this policy. According to him, Afghanistan’s current interactions with these countries are a successful example of constructive diplomatic relations.
He went on to point out common security challenges, including threats from ISIS, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and organized crime, and said that Afghan security institutions have taken the necessary measures in this regard, and currently, the security situation on the common borders is satisfactory.
Mottaqi also pointed to domestic achievements, announcing the provision of nationwide security, reduction of administrative corruption, progress in digitalization, and prohibition of drug cultivation, adding that these measures have paved the way for economic growth and attracting foreign investment.
Stating that the volume of Afghanistan's trade with Central Asian countries reached about $2.7 billion in 2025, he said that a goal has been set to increase this figure to $10 billion in the next three to four years. According to him, sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, health, telecommunications, and infrastructure projects are among the important areas of investment.
The Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of regional projects including Afghan-Trans, TAPI, CASA-1000, Lapis Lazuli Road, and transit corridors, and said that Afghanistan is trying to use its geoeconomic position to become a bridge connecting Central Asia with South and West Asia.
It is worth noting that he also put forward several specific proposals, including continuing consultative meetings, holding joint research meetings, developing a common security approach, coordinating trade and transit cooperation, and cooperating in combating climate change.
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