KABUL (SW) – The Islamic Emirate Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, held a meeting on Tuesday in Kabul city, with a high-level delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Baxtiyor Saidov.
This delegation comprises of 30 officials, members of the cabinet and representatives of the private sector of Uzbekistan.
During this meeting, FM Saidov said that his country has always supported Afghanistan in international forums and emphasized that Afghanistan should be a part of the international community, according to a newsletter issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Quoting Saidov, the newsletter added that Uzbekistan considers Afghanistan as a part of Central Asia, and Afghanistan holds great importance for the development of central Asian countries.
The meeting focused on in-depth discussions regarding bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, transit, and transport including bilateral relations.
FM Muttaqi said that “visits of the delegation on different stack between the two countries shows the close relations between the two countries.”
FM Muttaqi expressed hope that bilateral relations will be further enhanced by upgrading the diplomatic presence at Afghan embassy in Tashkent, adding that the trade between the two countries is increasing, and expressed hope that more facilities will be provided thereof.
Urging to facilitate visa issuance process to Afghan businesspersons and transport personnel, FM Muttaqi said that both countries should make concerted efforts to facilitate transit further.
Saidov said that the issue of visa issuance to businessmen and drivers is being taken into consideration, which is important for the development of bilateral trade.
In addition, highlighting on the shortage of electricity imported from Uzbekistan, FM Muttaqi said that the shortage of electricity in the winter season creates problems for both the ordinary people and the industrial class of our country, and urged to address the issues of the shortage of electricity.
This Uzbek delegation, also held meetings with Acting Prime Minister, Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, Abdul Salam Hanafi.
The Islamic Emirate officials state that FM Saidov pledged his country’s readiness to accept the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Tashkent and to cooperate with Afghanistan on technical aspects of projects like the Qosh Tepa Canal and regional connectivity, along with the implementation of joint projects such as the Afghan-Trans project.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, tells Salaam Watandar: “Uzbekistan commented that it wants to receive the Afghan ambassador in its country soon, and the Islamic Emirate also praised their cooperation and continued to show its cooperation in the field of projects such as Afghan-Trans and called for more cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan”.
New chapter unfolds
Terming his visit to Afghanistan important, the Uzbek Foreign Minister called his visit as “a new chapter in bilateral relations.”
Commending the existing security situation, FM Baxtiyor Saidov expressed satisfaction with the security of the shared border of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, deeming the coordination of the concerned bodies of the two countries important in this regard.
FM Saidov said that Uzbekistan desires to invest in Afghanistan in the fields of cement production, coal extraction and coal-based electricity generation.
Additionally, he said that investment in these areas could help Afghan Trans-railway in the territory of Afghanistan.
Saidov said, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan enjoy mutual interests in the region; hence, it is necessary to have close cooperation.
Uzbek FM Saidov has also invited FM Muttaqi to visit Uzbekistan. The time remains uncertain.
Divergent perspectives
Experts view Uzbekistan’s economic approach to Afghanistan as crucial.
Mohammad Zalmai Afghanyar Popal, a political expert, considers Uzbekistan’s economy-oriented approach to Afghanistan a positive step.
A number of economic experts believe that Uzbekistan, seeks to gain economic benefits through investment and transit through Afghanistan.
They emphasize that such regional approaches, leading to the expansion of economic and political relations, can facilitate Afghanistan’s emergence from international isolation.
Mahmood Izterabi, an expert in international relations, says: “At the beginning of the Islamic Emirate’s ruling, countries were cautious in interacting with Afghanistan, and gradually we see that the number of countries that directly or indirectly establish official relations with the Islamic Emirate is increasing.”
