Uzbek officials discuss economic projects

KABUL (Khaama Press): A senior delegation of Uzbekistan, led by the country’s National Security Advisor Abdul Aziz Kamilov, visited Afghanistan, where they discussed political and economic affairs with several Islamic Emirate officials.
Kamilov, who is also the Special Representative of the Uzbekistan President for Foreign Policy, met the First Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Second Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, acting Minister of Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi, as TOLOnews reported.
The meeting aimed to tackle issues concerning Afghanistan’s relations with the international community and resuming economic projects, according to a statement released by Baradar’s office.
Acting Minister Haqqani told the delegation that since Islamic Emirate came into power it has been able to maintain security, which “has special importance on the border with neighboring countries.” the Ministry of Interior (MoI) wrote in a statement.
“Both sides pledged to work for closer ties between the two countries so that the two nations could make better use of economic opportunities,” the statement further said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a series of tweets that the two sides discussed Afghan-Uzbek bilateral relations, enhanced transit, and trade.
“Mr. Kamilov highlighted the upcoming high-level political and economic conference among regional and world countries and institutions hosted by Uzbekistan in July, and invited Foreign Minister Muttaqi to attend the same,” MoFA said.
Last month, Kabul and Uzbekistan officials held a virtual meeting, discussing the “finalization of the railway plan” between the two countries.
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Uzbekistan.
Abdul Qahar Balkh, MoFA spokesman, said both sides of the meeting called to push through the process of completing the Termez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project.
“The two sides discussed the expansion of trade, transit and transport between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the finalization of the roadmap for cooperation between the two countries and the Temez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway plan,” he wrote in a threat.
Uzbekistan has started building a $5bn railway across Afghanistan to link up with Pakistan’s seaports in a project promoted by the three countries.