On June 23, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the presidential press service said.

The two leaders reportedly exchanged views on the situation in Central Asia and underscored the need to continue close dialogue and coordination of efforts in order to ensure security and stability, strengthen good-neighborliness in the region.

On the same day, Emomali Rahmon hosted the participants of the 16th meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries. The event was also attended by Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Uzbekistan Bobur Usmanov.

At the meeting, the parties focused on the military-political situation in Afghanistan and "alarming tendencies of its escalation," the press service of the President of Tajikistan said.

On June 21 the Taliban seized the Sherkhon-Bandar checkpoint on the border of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, 134 Afghan soldiers retreated to the territory of a neighboring state. The State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan assessed the situation on the border line between the countries as tense.

Emomali Rahmon also spoke with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at which the military-political situation in Afghanistan was discussed.

The heads of state "expressed concern about the sharp escalation of the situation in the northern and northeastern regions of this country," which is about to lead to "an increase in tensions and negatively affects the overall regional security," the statement said. They noted the importance of comprehensive assistance in the practical launch of the intra-Afghan negotiation process.