Afghanistan’s diplomatic engagement with the international community has expanded significantly since the Islamic Emirate returned to power, with Kabul conducting thousands of diplomatic contacts with countries and international organizations, according to a new study by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

The study found that the Islamic Emirate conducted 3,651 diplomatic engagements with 103 countries and international organizations between 24 Asad 1400 and 24 Asad 1405 in the Afghan Solar Hijri calendar.

According to the findings, Kabul significantly strengthened its diplomatic contacts with neighboring states and major regional powers during the period, with Iran, China, Türkiye, Qatar, Uzbekistan and India emerging as some of Afghanistan’s most important diplomatic partners.

The findings highlight the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to expand regional engagement despite continuing disagreements with Western governments over Afghanistan’s domestic policies and the country’s formal international recognition.

Afghanistan shares borders with several strategically important countries, including Iran, Pakistan, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, making regional diplomacy a central element of Kabul’s foreign-policy approach.

Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Kabul has established significant relations with Islamic, Arab and regional countries and remains committed to expanding those ties.

He said Afghanistan also wants constructive diplomatic relations with Western countries, including states that previously participated in the US-led military intervention in Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan has good relations with countries, particularly Islamic, Arab, and regional countries, and these ties are tangible,” Mujahid said.

He added that Kabul has no objection to establishing diplomatic relations with other countries and wants to develop relations based on mutual interests and trust.

“We want good relations with Western countries and those that were once involved in the war in Afghanistan as well,” he said, calling for wartime policies toward Afghanistan to be replaced with a more positive approach.

Mujahid urged Western governments to reconsider their policies toward Afghanistan, arguing that continued pressure and confrontation should give way to engagement and cooperation.

He said Afghanistan shares common interests with neighboring, regional and Islamic countries and wants to develop relations with all states on the basis of mutual respect.

“Afghanistan seeks the best possible relations with all of them and is working to make these relations more trust-based,” Mujahid said.

The comments come as the Islamic Emirate continues to seek greater diplomatic acceptance while maintaining that Afghanistan should be allowed to pursue an independent foreign policy based on its national interests.

The Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Ministry previously said that 40 Afghan diplomatic missions are currently active in different countries, while representatives from more than 20 countries are present in Kabul.

The figures indicate that, despite the absence of broad formal international recognition, Afghanistan has maintained and expanded a network of diplomatic contacts.

Kabul’s growing engagement with regional powers suggests that the Islamic Emirate is increasingly seeking to deepen relations with neighboring and non-Western countries while simultaneously keeping the door open for dialogue with Western governments.

The diplomatic activity also reflects Afghanistan’s broader effort to overcome international isolation, strengthen economic and political ties, and establish balanced, trust-based relations with countries around the world. (ILKHA)