CUPA ExplainsField guide Entry No. 01
How does the US engage Afghanistan’s neighbours?
DiplomacySecuritySouth AsiaCentral Asia & Afghanistan
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What it isThe short answer
Since the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021, the United States has had no embassy operating in Kabul and has relied heavily on regional partners for diplomacy, counterterrorism cooperation and humanitarian access. Washington engages Pakistan, the Central Asian states and others both bilaterally and through regional formats, and much of its diplomacy on Afghanistan has been conducted from Qatar. Shared concerns include terrorism, refugees, narcotics and the movement of people and goods across borders. For Pakistan, which shares a long border with Afghanistan, US policy toward the region bears directly on its own security and economy.
A fuller explanation, with key facts and sources, is on its way.
Sources
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/history/article/2025/06/19/the-2021-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-a-solo-decision_6742489_157.html?srsltid=AU7gw4XNOHoEtxkOLe_TlQRjUnNsm72FwUUY9mnOyrya4m7AwKXvPRve
- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/13/us/politics/afghanistan-troops-withdrawal.html
Cite this
APA
Center for US-Pakistan Affairs. (2026, October 7). How does the US engage Afghanistan’s neighbours? CUPA Explains. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://cupa.org.pk/explains/how-does-the-us-engage-afghanistans-neighbours
Chicago
Center for US-Pakistan Affairs. “How does the US engage Afghanistan’s neighbours?” CUPA Explains. Last modified October 7, 2026. Accessed October 7, 2026. https://cupa.org.pk/explains/how-does-the-us-engage-afghanistans-neighbours.
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