KABUL (Dispatches) -- Five years after the Taliban seized power in Kabul, Afghanistan’s rulers have built a web of diplomatic and economic ties that extends far beyond what many predicted in August 2021, even as formal recognition remains largely out of reach.
Russia stands as the only country to have formally recognized the Islamic Emirate, but the complete isolation some expected has not materialized. Afghanistan receives foreign diplomats, participates in regional talks, and has signed mining agreements worth billions of dollars involving Chinese and Iranian capital.
The diplomatic arrangement has taken root because international approaches have diverged. The UN has described the situation facing Afghan women as the world’s most severe women’s rights crisis. Yet neighboring states have practical issues to address involving trade, security, water, energy and transportation.
Central Asia has gone furthest in developing working ties. In April, Kabul hosted the first dedicated Central Asia-Afghanistan Consultative Dialogue, attended by representatives of all five Central Asian states. The format itself represented a multilateral political mechanism for regular engagement.
Trade and transportation continue regardless of diplomatic status. In the first quarter of 2026, rail freight between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan reached 1 million tons, up 77% year over year. 
Tajikistan, which long maintained the toughest stance toward the Taliban, has also expanded working contacts with Kabul, though border security remains a serious concern.
The scale of proposed infrastructure projects is growing. Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan are preparing the Trans-Afghan Railway, a project that would provide access to Pakistani ports. Preliminary cost estimates have risen to more than $7 billion, with investors from the UAE and Qatar also expressing interest.
Kazakhstan has agreed with Kabul to explore construction of the Torghundi-Herat railway, with a potential extension toward the Pakistani border. The project is intended to give Kazakhstan a shorter route to ports on the Indian Ocean.
In August, the first Afghan leg of the TAPI gas pipeline received fresh momentum as construction advanced from Turkmenistan toward Herat. Afghan Gas and Türkmengaz signed a memorandum on gas purchases, though pricing and volumes remain to be determined. Construction has yet to move beyond western Afghanistan.
Central Asian states do not legally recognize the Islamic Emirate, yet practical cooperation increasingly requires them to treat its institutions as counterparties capable of making long-term commitments. 
Afghanistan’s economy is growing, but remains fragile. The World Bank estimated real GDP growth at 4.8% in 2025, but the return of around 3.7 million Afghans contributed to a 5.6% decline in GDP per capita. Investment remains weak, while businesses have limited access to financing.