TOLOnews reported on November 18 that Hamdullah Fitrat, a deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, has said that the Islamic Emirate seeks to establish good relations with Tajikistan and that there have been recent exchanges between the two sides in recent days.
Fitrat reportedly added that given these recent exchanges, there is hope for progress in relations with Dushanbe.
"The Islamic Emirate wants good relations with all countries, including Tajikistan. Since Tajikistan is a neighboring and Muslim country, we want to have good relations. Delegations from both sides have recently met, and we hope progress will be made in this regard in the future," the deputy spokesperson was cited as saying.
Tajikistan, one of Afghanistan's neighbors, has not had close relations with the Islamic Emirate compared to other neighboring countries.
Some political analysts said that improving relations between the interim government and neighboring countries requires more exchanges and meetings between officials.
"Tajikistan has played a central role in the region over the past two decades. It is necessary for the Islamic Emirate to establish good relations with all neighboring countries, especially Tajikistan, considering the circumstances," said Sayed Maqdam Amin, a political analyst.
"The more meetings are held with the leadership of Tajikistan, and the more exchanges take place, the more beneficial it will be for both sides," said Saleem Paigir, another political analyst.
Earlier, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, reportedly also stated that relations between Kabul and Dushanbe are improving. However, it remains unclear at what level these exchanges between the officials of the two countries have taken place and who from both sides has met.
Tajikistan's government is the only Central Asian government that has not improved relations with the Taliban. Tajikistan is the strongest critic of the Taliban in Central Asia. Immediately after the Taliban takeover, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon vowed not to recognize the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate as it was “formed through oppression.” He has criticized the Taliban for ignoring the rights of ethnic Tajiks in Afghanistan and vowed his support for an inclusive government in the country. However, in mid-September 2024, the media reported on the “unofficial visit” of the head of Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security (SCNS) Saimumin Yatimov to Kabul and his meeting with the Taliban security chiefs. It was noted that the visit was made to “strengthen bilateral relations between Tajikistan and the Taliban”. Economic interests play their role. Tajikistan exports electricity to Afghanistan and has reopened five markets in border towns where goods are traded on both sides.
