Yerzhan Kistafin, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, expressed strong optimism about Afghanistan’s potential to emerge as a central actor in regional cooperation and development over the coming years.
Kabul 24: In a recent interview with Sama TV, the diplomat stated that Afghanistan is poised to play a pivotal role in regional connectivity and economic integration.
He emphasized that within the next five years, the country could transform from a peripheral state into a key hub for cross-border trade, transit corridors, and multilateral projects.
Kistafin highlighted the critical importance of stability in Afghanistan for the entire region, describing security as the absolute foundation for progress. “Security is the backbone,” he said. “Without security, no meaningful development can take place.” He stressed the need for collective security measures to address shared threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and cross-border crime, urging neighboring countries to coordinate closely on these issues.
The ambassador pointed to several promising regional initiatives as examples of growing connectivity.
Among them are planned railway projects that will link Central Asian states, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and beyond, creating faster and more efficient trade routes.
These infrastructure developments, he noted, have the potential to significantly boost commerce, investment, and people-to-people contacts across the region.
Kistafin praised Afghanistan’s demonstrated willingness to actively participate in such joint ventures, calling it a positive and encouraging sign. “If this momentum continues,” he predicted, “in five years we will see a completely different picture of regional cooperation—one in which Afghanistan stands at the center rather than the margin.”He repeatedly underscored the inseparable link between security and development, arguing that lasting peace and shared prosperity depend on synchronized efforts among Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and other neighboring countries. Coordinated diplomacy, he said, is essential to building sustainable stability and economic growth across the broader region.
The Kazakh envoy concluded by expressing hope that continued focus on economic diplomacy, transit corridors, and mutual trust would lead to a brighter and more prosperous future for all involved.
His remarks reflect a growing shift in Central Asian perspectives toward viewing Afghanistan not only as a neighbor in need of stabilization, but as an emerging partner with strategic importance in regional supply chains and transport networks.
