In an article written for The Diplomat, Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili discusses how the establishment of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2021 affected the Central Asian region. Jennifer Murtazashvili is is Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, and the author of "Informal Order and the State in Afghanistan."
After the Republic's Collapse
When the Taliban seized control of Kabul, former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani sought refuge in Uzbekistan. However, the strained relationship between Ghani and Tashkent led to his subsequent relocation to Abu Dhabi.
During this period, more than 50 members of the Afghan Air Force fled in their aircraft. Some landed in Tajikistan, while others touched down in Termez, Uzbekistan. The Taliban demanded the return of these planes, but Uzbekistan, in particular, handed them over to the United States, claiming they were U.S. property. Initially, humanitarian organizations expressed serious concerns about the possibility of a massive influx of refugees across Central Asian borders.
Reaction of Neighbors
However, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan did not permit ordinary Afghan citizens to enter their territories, granting access only to a few high-level delegations. The presence of over 10,000 Russian troops in Tajikistan played a crucial role in maintaining stability and safeguarding the border between the Central Asian states and Afghanistan.
Further Developments
Although the initial interactions between Afghanistan under the Taliban's rule and Central Asia were marked by confrontation and confusion, they gradually evolved into a cooperative relationship based on shared interests and norms. Leaders in Central Asia, who have historically prioritized stability over democracy, viewed the Taliban as a potential source of order in the region. The fall of the Afghan Republic unexpectedly provided Central Asia with an opportunity to establish new connections with Afghanistan.
Since 2021, the relationship between the Taliban and its northern neighbors has been characterized by mutually beneficial interests. The Taliban seeks trade and economic activities to alleviate the economic impact of losing foreign aid, which Afghanistan had depended on for a long time. In return, Central Asian states are seeking stability and security. Some countries, such as Uzbekistan, aspire to undertake significant infrastructure projects and rebuild deep ties with Afghanistan to facilitate trade and commerce.
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