RASC News Agency: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan has announced that special representatives from Central Asian countries and the European Union convened for their sixth meeting on Afghanistan, analyzing the country’s evolving political, economic, and social landscape. The meeting took place on Wednesday, February 5, in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. During the discussions, participants thoroughly examined the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, with a particular emphasis on the plight of women and girls, as well as the mounting security challenges and threats. The European Union and Central Asian states reiterated their call for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan and demanded the immediate lifting of restrictions imposed on women.
The meeting also explored collaborative strategies to provide humanitarian and developmental assistance to the Afghanistani people. While most Central Asian nations have maintained extensive political and economic engagement with the Taliban, Tajikistan has remained a vocal critic of the group’s governance and policies. Officials from the region, along with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), have consistently raised alarms over the security risks posed by the Taliban’s rule. Since the Taliban’s takeover, Tajikistan has expressed grave concerns regarding the group’s ethno-political strategies and security policies, viewing their presence as a direct and serious threat to Central Asia, particularly to Tajikistan itself.
Over the past three and a half years, the Taliban have reportedly intensified efforts to destabilize the region and conduct anti-Tajik propaganda. They have also facilitated the movement of Tajikistani extremist factions, including the notorious Ansarullah group and other affiliated terrorist organizations, positioning them along Tajikistan’s borders in an apparent effort to exert pressure on the country.
