Kazakhstan removes IEA from list of terrorist organizations

The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Monday that his country has removed the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan [IEA] from its terrorist list in order to develop economic ties with Afghanistan.

Speaking at a meeting with parliament speakers from countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Tokayev said: “Kazakhstan has removed the Taliban from the list of terrorists proceeding from the importance of developing trade and economic cooperation with present-day Afghanistan taking into account that this regime is here to stay.”

According to Tokayev, involving Afghanistan in interregional cooperation will be a priority going forward, Russia’s TASS news reported Monday.

Tokayev stressed the importance of the CSTO standing together on this matter and called on them to support his country’s initiative which was geared toward establishing a UN regional center for sustainable development in Central Asia and Afghanistan in the city of Almaty.