Taliban Hold Talks in Uzbekistan on Trade and Aid

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Representatives of the Taliban government in Afghanistan visited neighboring Uzbekistan to conduct bilateral talks on trade and assistance, according to the Uzbek Foreign Ministry.

Talks took place in the Uzbek border city of Termez, where the Taliban delegation was headed by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, while the Uzbek delegation was headed by his counterpart Sardor Umurzakov.

The city of Termez is a hub for international humanitarian aid - Afghanistan being the final destination of the aid. Uzbekistan presents itself as an "air bridge" to Afghanistan.

The Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the talks included "issues of trade and economic interaction, border security, cooperation in the energy sector, international cargo transportation and transit."

UNHCR: Aid will arrive soon to Afghanistan

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed this week that 3 shipments of humanitarian aid will be airlifted to Termez shortly before being brought into Afghanistan by truck.

Taliban's government relations with neighboring countries

Afghanistan's neighbors, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have taken a pragmatic stance on the Taliban's return to power, as the two governments have opened direct channels with the movement in recent years to secure cross-border infrastructure projects. But Tajikistan, also a country in Central Asia, has avoided formal talks with the Taliban.

The new government in Afghanistan is seeking international political recognition, in addition to obtaining aid to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the country.