The Astana Think Tank Forum 2025 continues its work in Astana under the theme “From Polarization to Partnership: Rebuilding Trust in the International System.” Two panel sessions on the first day of the forum were focused on Central Asian issues.
One of the key events of the Astana Think Tank Forum 2025 was the Third Central Asian Forum on Security and Cooperation, traditionally held under the title “Central Asia in the Changing Architecture of Global Security.” The participants of the discussion – heads of leading think tanks of Central Asia – analyzed the challenges that the transformation of the international security system poses for regional stability and development. They also discussed prospects for regional cooperation and the role of Central Asia as a bridge for global dialogue amid growing polarization.
The session was moderated by Sanat Kushkumbayev, Chief Research Fellow at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS). In his speech at the forum, Zhandos Shaimardanov, Director of KazISS, noted that Central Asia possesses unique experience in peaceful coexistence, balancing interests, and finding compromises. He emphasized that this experience could become a valuable contribution of the region to rethinking the principles of global governance and security.
“In this context, we propose considering the establishment of an Expert Alliance of Middle Powers, which could serve as a platform for synchronizing views, opportunities, and projects. Such a structure could become an intellectual tool for renewing the United Nations by developing coordinated approaches to security, sustainable development, and shared responsibility. One of its practical areas of activity could be promoting the concept of zones free from military action — as a foundation for a new philosophy of trust and preventive diplomacy,” suggested the KazISS Director.
Khairiddin Usmonzoda, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, highlighted that in recent years, the countries of Central Asia have gained vast opportunities for regional cooperation.
“The effective use of all available resources in trade, economic, investment, energy, transport, and logistics cooperation — as well as in the rational use of our countries’ water-energy and food potential — will promote the expansion of industrial cooperation among the Central Asian states. This will become a solid foundation for ensuring sustainable economic growth and food security in the region,” said the Tajik expert.
Batyr Rejepov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Kazakhstan, proposed institutionalizing his country’s successful experience in neutrality and peacebuilding.
“Turkmenistan consistently advocates for strengthening multilateral diplomacy, respecting international law, and developing mutually beneficial cooperation on an equal basis. In this regard, Turkmenistan proposes establishing an Institute of Neutrality and Security in Ashgabat, which could serve as an effective platform for conducting academic research and studies on neutrality and related issues,” stated the Turkmen Ambassador.
Adilbek Shumkarbek uulu, Deputy Director of the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized the importance of considering the region’s socio-cultural features when developing solutions to key challenges.
“Analysis of recent research shows that there is still a lack of targeted academic works and analytical materials devoted to studying the socio-cultural characteristics of Central Asian populations. We propose developing research in this direction to gain a deeper understanding of each nation’s strengths and advantages. Such knowledge will not only help us better prepare for new challenges but also allow us to use the region’s socio-cultural potential as a basis for sustainable economic growth,” he stressed.
Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Mustafayev, in his speech, emphasized that in recent years, the Central Asian countries have moved beyond traditional trade, expanding industrial cooperation, joint investment projects, and high value-added production.
The Uzbek expert proposed uniting the potentials of Central Asian countries to tackle shared regional challenges such as raw material dependency and dominance of a single economic sector, transport isolation, the digital divide, demographic challenges, climate change, and the Afghan factor.
A logical continuation of the Central Asian Forum on Security and Cooperation was the session dedicated to the development of pragmatic cooperation between Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Session participants noted the strengthening of mutual cooperation in recent years, marked by trade agreements between regional countries and Afghanistan.
Special Representative of the President of Kazakhstan for Afghanistan, Yerkin Tukumov, emphasized the prioritization of trade-economic and transport cooperation with Afghanistan, and the importance of creating new transport routes linking Central Asia and Afghanistan with South Asia – Pakistan and India.
“Afghanistan has historically served as a transit hub – routes of the Great Silk Road and other trade corridors passed through its territory. Today, like the Central Asian countries, Afghanistan is interested in developing stable and reliable transport routes ensuring cargo transit and access to South Asian markets. Previously, our region was largely oriented toward the West, and then toward the East – primarily China. The southern direction had long remained on the sidelines for obvious reasons – Afghanistan had been in a state of war for almost half a century. Now the situation is gradually changing. While it’s too early to speak of complete security, the level of risk has significantly decreased: the Taliban movement effectively controls the country, and overall stability has increased,” – Tukumov stressed.
Director of the International Institute of Central Asia (Uzbekistan), Javlon Vakhabov, in turn, proposed developing comprehensive and coordinated actions by Central Asia on the Afghan track.
“It is necessary to form a regional approach to infrastructure development, establish a sustainable coordination mechanism on Afghan affairs, and hold an international forum ‘Central Asia – Afghanistan’ to promote expert dialogue, coordinate policies, share research, and develop joint solutions,” – he noted.
“In addition, it is important to consider involving Afghanistan in the Regional Water Dialogue — to integrate the country into water resource management mechanisms in Central Asia, develop a multilateral framework for the fair use of the Amu Darya’s resources, and foster long-term cooperation on climate and water security issues,” – the Uzbek expert emphasized.
Executive Director of the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy (Canada–USA), Younes Zangiabadi, highlighted the pragmatic approach of Central Asia toward Afghanistan in his remarks.
“It is Central Asia that can play a key regional role – as organizer, participant, and guarantor of such a multilateral dialogue on Afghanistan. The ‘6+2’ format, which existed in the early 2000s, remains an interesting model that can be revived and modernized. This format brought together regional and global powers – both formally and informally – for inclusive discussions about Afghanistan’s future,” – the Western expert suggested.
The session also featured Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Waliullah Shaheen, who emphasized Afghanistan’s willingness to engage in water-related negotiations, as well as its interest in strengthening trade and economic ties with its Central Asian neighbors.
Concluding the discussion, experts expressed confidence that the development of constructive dialogue and practical cooperation with Afghanistan will contribute to strengthening regional resilience and creating a predictable security architecture in the region.
On October 16, the Astana Think Tank Forum 2025 continued its work. The second day of the forum featured discussions on investment in the era of fragmented global markets, development of trade and transport corridors in Eurasia, artificial intelligence and related ethical dilemmas, the impact of climate change and water issues on demographic trends and migration. A number of parallel events and bilateral meetings are also taking place within the forum.
