Uzbek and Pakistani Officials Discuss Afghanistan

The President of Uzbekistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev, discussed the situation in Afghanistan at a meeting with Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan said in a statement that the parties expressed mutual interest in developing joint actions to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, as well as to promote the peaceful development of the country.

According to the statement, they also discussed ongoing transport and communication projects in Afghanistan, in particular, the construction of the Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar railway line.

“The importance of expanding cooperation in the Afghan direction, in particular in providing humanitarian and other assistance to the Afghan people was noted,” the statement reads.

During the meeting, Durrani and Irgashev discussed the prospects for the further development of the Uzbekistan-Pakistan strategic partnership in the trade, economic, investment, transport and communications spheres.

“While the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are going towards destruction; the neighboring countries such as Uzbekistan are attempting to improve relations with Pakistan and they want to extend their relations through cooperating with Afghanistan,” said Najib Rahman Shamal, an international relations analyst.

“Pakistan is forced to cross to Central Asia through Afghanistan. Whether it goes to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, or other countries,” said Masoud, an economist.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that they are trying to improve ties with both Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

“Our relations with the countries have been very good. Uzbekistan and Pakistan have [diplomatic] missions in Afghanistan. We also have our embassies in those countries. We have diplomatic relations with those countries. We are working to improve economic and diplomatic relations,” Mujahid told TOLOnews.

Although some countries’ embassies have been closed for longer than two years, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are among the nations with active embassies in Afghanistan. High-ranking officials of these nations sometimes visit Afghanistan to meet with officials of the Islamic Emirate.