Europe and Central Asia’s Post-Afghanistan Strategy
Joint Conference by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Germany.
With the withdrawal of ISAF from Afghanistan at the end of 2014, Iraq’s current predicament serves as a timely warning to the international community. The future of Afghanistan has great implications not only for regional security in Central Asia but also for EU neighbors in terms of extremism and drug trafficking. Close to the conflict zone of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and bordering Russia and China, Kazakhstan has a very particular geographic position as a transit country in Eurasia. It faces specific challenges through its proximity to the conflict zones and its vast borders with weak states in the south – important transit routes for drug trafficking and terrorist groups. All this has an impact on security in Europe. How prepared are Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states for the increased security challenges after ISAF’s withdrawal? What position does Kazakhstan take within regional security organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation? What is the EU’s role in strengthening security and fighting drug trafficking in the region?
