Abdulaziz Kamilov: Engagement with Afghanistan Should Be Built on Dialogue, Not Recognition

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan pursues a consistent, pragmatic, and principled policy in its engagement with the current authorities of Afghanistan, advocating for a full-fledged international dialogue involving the Taliban movement. This position was outlined by Abdulaziz Kamilov, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council under the President and Special Representative of the Head of State for Foreign Policy, in an interview with Ishonch.uz.

According to Kamilov, Uzbekistan’s cooperation with Afghanistan is not a matter of recognition or non-recognition:

“It’s not about whether we recognize them or not. Recognition will come — in due course. That’s inevitable. But we want that process to take place in close coordination with the international community, including the United Nations,” he emphasized.

Kamilov highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between the peoples of the two countries, which have coexisted for centuries within a shared civilizational space. He referenced prominent figures whose lives were closely linked to Afghan soil, including Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, Alisher Navoi, Lutfiy, Kamoliddin Behzod, Zahiriddin Babur, and Mashrab — many of whom, he noted, found their final resting places in Afghanistan.

He also cited a recent goodwill gesture from the Taliban: the donation of 16 truckloads of white marble from Herat to Hairatan for the restoration of the Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex.

“This is a clear testament to our spiritual closeness. What other country would have done something like that?” Kamilov asked.

In his view, the Afghan people — who have endured the interventions of the British Empire, the Soviet Union, and NATO — need support, not pressure.

“They all came, destroyed, and then demanded what kind of state should be built, what structure it should have, and what policies it should pursue. It’s easy to give advice. But a people who haven’t known peace for more than forty years, above all, need assistance. That’s why our President laid out the guiding principles for cooperation with Afghanistan from the start — dialogue and engagement,” Kamilov stated.

He also commented on the collapse of the previous Afghan government, noting that under President Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan was highly vulnerable: 70% of the national budget relied on foreign aid, while control extended over just 30–40% of the country’s territory.

Kamilov recalled that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had previously urged the Afghan government to initiate dialogue with the opposition — a call that was ignored. As a result, Uzbekistan began preparing for alternative scenarios.

“We made the right move by starting dialogue with the Taliban and inviting them to Uzbekistan. They are in power now, and we know them well. When we first began these contacts, many major countries asked us why we were talking to terrorists. Now they come to us asking for help in building connections — because we already have those relationships,” he noted.

Kamilov advocated for inclusive bilateral and multilateral dialogue involving Taliban representatives.

“The current dialogue is one-sided. To make it meaningful, the Taliban must be heard, given the opportunity to speak, and invited to international forums. Only then can we have a substantial discussion — whether we agree with them or not,” he said.

As a historical parallel, he cited the example of Yasser Arafat: “He was once labeled terrorist number one. Then he addressed the UN General Assembly, began dialogue with Israel, and ultimately received the Nobel Peace Prize. War distorts minds and destroys thinking. A people who have lived through more than four decades of conflict need not criticism, but professional support and assistance,” Kamilov asserted.

He concluded with a powerful metaphor: “When one person is in a car accident, we call a psychologist. But here we’re talking about an entire nation — one that hasn’t known peace in over 40 years. We must work with them, support them, and help them rebuild.”