AFGHANISTAN - UZBEKISTAN RELATIONS AFTER 2021: STRATEGIC PRAGMATISM IN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT

Abstract

Afghanistan remains an important factor for Central Asia not only in terms of security but also in the context of the region's connectivity and development. Furthermore, it is crucial to examine the economic potential of bilateral relations between Afghanistan and the region. One key focus of this study is relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Geography, trade, and regional political factors contribute to the historically important and strategically significant relationship between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the nature of the Afghan economy and politics, as well as Afghanistan's interactions with its neighbor, have fundamentally changed. One focus of this study is an analysis of the development of economic and political relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in the areas of trade and infrastructure development, as well as the political strategies aimed at achieving these goals. The study employs a qualitative approach to analyze key factors and challenges in bilateral cooperation, drawing on official agreements, policy documents, news, and academic sources. The results show that although Uzbekistan is actively developing economic interactions, particularly in the transport and energy sectors, long-term stability and cooperation with Afghanistan are limited by political uncertainty in the country.