Uzbekistan has proposed groundbreaking initiatives including railroad between Pakistan and Uzbekistan passing through Afghanistan, as the two countries expressed the resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation. The proposal was shared by the visiting Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov during bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi after his arrival here on an official visit along with a five-member delegation.
Speaking at a joint news conference after the meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the railroad corridor, which will enhance the connectivity in the region, has been elaborately discussed. "We also talked about the international and regional support for the subject corridor," he added.
He pointed out that there are great opportunities to promote bilateral trade between the two countries. "Today we had a very fruitful and a very forward looking meeting...We also discussed that it may be ensured that we may have the same objectives for achieving peace and stability in the region," he said.
Qureshi said that the two sides also discussed the Afghan issue, saying that it was encouraging that the views of both the countries on Afghanistan are "almost alike."
"Both our countries feel that there is no military solution to the Afghan problem. We are prepared to facilitate and support the dialogue process," he said. The foreign minister also accepted an invitation extended by his Uzbek counterpart to visit Uzbekistan. "I would avail this at the first instance in order to take the discussions forward," he added.
Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said Pakistan is a regional power, which can play central role in guaranteeing regional peace and stability, adding that Uzbekistan gives immense importance to bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the realm of security.
"We would continue to cooperate in trade sector. We also discussed various development projects like transport, communication, etc, in the region," he said.
"Both countries share this common interest and we will continue to cooperate for this cause. We can shape a comprehensive/roadmap agenda for bilateral cooperation, which may encompass all possible areas of cooperation," he said.
He said that the two sides also focused upon regional security, especially peace and stability in Afghanistan. On Afghanistan, he said that the two sides have common approach, adding that regional support is very important because it is in the interest of both the countries.
He said that the two sides also discussed cooperation between the two countries in facing various challenges and threats. He said that Head of National Security Services of Uzbekistan was also part of his delegation, adding, "It is evident of the fact that we give importance to cooperation between the two countries in the realm of security."
Kamilov further said that they also talked about strengthening cooperation in the areas of tourism, people to people exchanges and cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries. "We have broken together the pause in our bilateral relations, which remained for a period of certain years," he said.
Adding to this, Foreign Minister Qureshi said: "We have not only broken the pause but we have added a new page to our bilateral relations."
In a press release issued after the meeting, Foreign Office said that the visit reinvigorated meaningful deliberations in all areas of bilateral cooperation including political, security and defence cooperation, peace process in Afghanistan as well as trade and investment promotion. "Areas of mutual interest for future collaboration were also identified, including agriculture, tourism and cultural cooperation," it stated.
It stated that Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov was accompanied by a high-level delegation including Chairman of the State Security Service Ikhtiyor Abullayev and Special Representative of President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan Ismatulla Irgashev, along with other representatives of Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and State Security Service of Uzbekistan.
"The two foreign ministers held delegation-level talks at the Foreign Office in a very candid atmosphere," it stated, adding that Uzbek foreign minister proposed groundbreaking initiatives like railroad between Uzbekistan and Pakistan passing through Afghanistan. "The project will add to Pakistan's potential as the regional transit hub, enhance connectivity with Central Asia and beyond and aid in regional development and prosperity," it added.
It was noted that Pakistan and Uzbekistan share similarity of views and a common approach that a stable and economically viable Afghanistan is a prerequisite for stability and development of the entire region. Both sides expressed readiness to facilitate and support Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process, the statement added. "Both sides agreed that the visit has opened up a new page in Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations and hoped that there would be no looking back from this point onwards. New strides in all areas of bilateral relations would be made in the days ahead," it noted.
In order to give further impetus to bilateral relations, it stated that it was agreed to hold the inaugural session of Bilateral Political Consultation and 6th session of Joint Ministerial Commission in Tashkent at the earliest possible.
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