It was an initiative of Uzbekistan in which representatives from other Central Asian states – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan – also participated. The group aims to meet regularly within the framework of the consultative meetings of the heads of the Central Asian states. China and the Central Asian states, as members of the SCO, share common concerns regarding Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the geographical proximity of the Central Asian states makes them practical partners, as they understand the challenges that Afghanistan faces. Instead, the Taliban will likely aim to involve every possible state, including China, Russia and the Central Asian states, in the extraction of the country’s natural resources.