- Recently, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Uzbekistan. She said that during the visit she discussed the issue of evacuating thousands of Afghans who suffered from the Taliban through the territory of Uzbekistan.

After Vladimir Norov’s speech on Uzbekistan’s policy towards the Taliban, the head of the Foreign Ministry noted that Germany did not agree with Uzbekistan on this issue. Why do you think Germany is against the Taliban?

- In fact, we can say that the position of the Collective West and Uzbekistan are two big parts of one position. Uzbekistan has no choice, because Afghanistan is our neighbor. Whether we like it or not, these are the real forces that have come to power. Uzbekistan plays the role of a “good cop” in relation to the Taliban. It is in constant communication with them, constantly trying to convince them that they are transforming.

At the same time, Uzbekistan definitely wants to fulfill the conditions set by the outside world. After all, the entire outside world set a number of fundamental conditions for the Taliban. The first is to cut ties with terrorist and extremist groups in the outside world and not support them in any way. Secondly, the Taliban must form an inclusive government in power. It should give place in power to various ethnic groups. With regard to gender issues, women should also be given more opportunities. In particular, former government officials should be given a seat in the government. The fulfillment of these requirements is fully in the interests of Uzbekistan.

The first goal of Uzbekistan’s contact with the Taliban is geopolitical independence. If we do not establish contact with the Taliban, we will have to join a certain “package” applied by the outside world to Afghanistan. If with America, then they fought with the Taliban for 20 years and relations between them, to put it mildly, are strained. And if we join the Russian “package”, the Russian Federation will exert geopolitical pressure on Central Asia under the pretext of “threats from the south”. Russia’s first condition is Uzbekistan’s entry into the CSTO. Thus, in order to maintain its neutrality, Uzbekistan contacts the Taliban directly.

In addition, Uzbekistan has major logistics projects through Afghanistan. There are ethnic Uzbek groups there, and we need to talk to the Taliban so that they are not pressured. This corresponds to the strategic interests of Uzbekistan. But if the outside world eases pressure on the Taliban, Uzbekistan’s strategy will begin to lose its meaning. If they continue the pressure and an inclusive government appears, social upheavals are prevented, this will be in the interests of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan cannot join external pressure, so as not to conflict with a neighboring country, but is interested in fulfilling the conditions of the West. Uzbekistan’s task is to be a “good cop” in relation to the Taliban. The collective West has the ability to be the “bad cop” and scare them. Uzbekistan, being a close neighbor, has the ability to convince.

At events in Tashkent related to Afghanistan, Uzbek dignitaries reminded the Taliban of the conditions of the international community. However, Uzbekistan, voicing these conditions, cannot do it by direct pressure, like the United States or Germany. Since they are our neighbors, if diplomatic relations turn negative, Uzbekistan’s ability to exert a soft influence on the Taliban will disappear or diminish.

One can watch the full interview in the video above.