Uzbekistan hosted an informal meeting between representatives of Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in the border city of Termez, according to media reports. The talks, reportedly initiated and mediated by Tashkent, aimed to reduce tensions and address unresolved disputes between Kabul and Islamabad amid concerns over escalating instability along the Afghan-Pakistani border.
The meeting reportedly brought together Afghan Foreign Ministry officials Zakir Jalali and Ghuncha Gul Arman, as well as former Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan and policy expert Amina Khan. Neither the Taliban authorities nor Pakistan have officially confirmed the talks or disclosed their agenda.
Reports suggest the discussions focused on de-escalation and preventing potential military clashes along the Afghan-Pakistani border, where tensions have persisted for several months. The meeting took place within the framework of the Termez Dialogue, an international platform attended by more than 150 delegations from Central and South Asia and international organizations.
Analysts cited by regional media say Uzbekistan has strong incentives to support stability in Afghanistan. Tashkent has invested in major Afghan energy and infrastructure projects, including the development of the Toti-Maidan gas field, a high-voltage power transmission line, and the planned Trans-Afghan Railway linking Central Asia with Pakistani ports.
Several countries, including Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and China, have previously attempted to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan without achieving a lasting settlement.
If Uzbekistan’s mediation efforts continue, they could help lower the risk of conflict and protect key regional transport and energy projects. A further deterioration in Afghan-Pakistani relations, however, could threaten both Uzbekistan’s economic interests and regional security.
