US support holding timely, credible election

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Ambassador Alice Wells during her three-day visit to Afghanistan discuss issues of mutual importance with Afghan officials, according to a statement on Wednesday.

Wells held fruitful meetings with President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar, National Directorate of Security Chief Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, Secretary General of the High Peace Council Akram Khapalwak, the statement said.

The visiting US diplomat discuss issues of mutual importance and bilateral cooperation.Ambassador Wells also met with Resolute Support Commander General John W.Nicholson, NATO Senior Civilian Representative Ambassador Cornelius Zimmermann, and other Coalition partners.

In addition, she hosted a meeting with Independent Election Commission commissioners and met separately with leading Afghan civil society figures.

During her visit, Ambassador Wells underscored US support for Afghanistan’s continued economic and political development, the holding of timely and credible elections, as well as efforts to bring peace, security, and stability to the country and the region as part of the US South Asia strategy.

Uzbek president supports Afghan peace negotiations: President Ashraf Ghani, welcoming increased cooperation between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, on Wednesday hoped the bilateral relationship would grow stronger with each passing day.

During his visit to Tashkent, the visiting Afghan leader conferred with his interlocutors on issues of regional and international importance, particularly counter-terrorism and combating drug trafficking.

At a joint news conference with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Ghani said they had agreed on further cementing Kabul-Tashkent relations in addition to strengthening security in Central Asia.

For his part, Mirziyoyev called political negotiations the most effective way of ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan’s National News Agency (UzA) quoted Mirziyoyev as promising comprehensive assistance in Afghanistan’s integration into regional socio-economic processes. “Uzbekistan sees Afghanistan as a close neighbour, a friendly country, and makes every effort to establish peace there, develop cooperation on trade, economy, transport, culture and other spheres,” he said.