Karachi Matters Editor
The Taliban has achieved another diplomatic milestone, with Uzbekistan formally accrediting Afghan Ambassador Abdul Ghafar Bahr, marking him as only the third Taliban envoy accepted by a foreign nation amid ongoing international isolation.
On Thursday, the Afghan Foreign Ministry announced that Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov welcomed Bahr as the Afghan Ambassador to Tashkent. The other two accepted envoys represent China and the United Arab Emirates.
Bahr, who previously served as a judicial official in southern Kandahar province and Kabul, presented his credentials to the Uzbek Foreign Minister on October 9. He emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and expressed hope for further advancements, as noted by Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi in a post on X.
Saidov acknowledged the shared history and mutual interests between the two nations, highlighting the potential for enhanced cooperation across various sectors.
On the same day, the Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum entered into a 10-year agreement with an Uzbek company valued at approximately $1 billion for the exploration and extraction of a natural gas block in northern Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of the Western-backed government in 2021, no country has officially recognized their administration. However, three years into their rule, they have made notable diplomatic progress. This includes their participation in UN-brokered talks earlier this summer and efforts to foster economic cooperation with neighboring countries.
