Uzbek FM proposes to involve Afghanistan in regional integration

TASHKENT (RIA Novosti): Afghanistan needs to be involved in regional integration processes for the economic recovery of the country, said Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov .
On Wednesday, a virtual meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China, Ir-an, Tajikistan, Turkmenis-tan and Uzbekistan took pl-ace, where the situation in Afghanistan was considered.
“The involvement of Afghanistan in regional integration processes is a reliable way to the country’s economic recovery,” Kamilov said during the meeting. He is quoted by the official representative and press secretary of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, Yusup Kabulzhanov, on his Telegram channel.
Kamilov noted that Afghanistan is at the center of regional connectivity between Central and South Asia.
Earlier, Kabulzhanov said that Uzbekistan welcomes the creation of an interim government in Afghanistan and expresses its readiness to develop a constructive dialogue with the new Afghan government agencies.
Sharing Pakistan’s perspective, Foreign Minister Qureshi emphasized the importance of proceeding with a realistic approach in view of the changed reality in Afghanistan. He added that the well-being of the Afghan people must remain the focus, as they had suffered enormously due to prolonged conflict and instability for more than forty years. He underlined that a shared approach would help Afghanistan on its path to peace and stability and would result in enhanced economic integration and realization of connectivity projects.
Qureshi drew the attention of the international community to addressing humanitarian crisis and preventing economic meltdown in Afghanistan as the key priorities.