H.E Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met with Mr. Abdullah Aripov, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan today.
The meeting was attended by Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa, Acting Minister of Information and Culture; Mullah Noorullah Noor, Acting Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs; Lotfullah Khairkhwa, Deputy Minister of Higher Education; and Sheikh Faqir Mohammad Mohammadi, Deputy Minister of vice and virtue.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Mr. Abdullah Aripov mentioned that Uzbekistan was the first country that formally established relations with the Islamic Emirate and underlined that these relations are grounded on goodwill and cooperation.
Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov reaffirmed the commitment to advancing relations and collaboration between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. He assured that Uzbekistan will support Afghanistan's position in key international forums and will address issues that have a direct impact on Afghans.
He also reiterated his country’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Afghanistan in economic and trade sectors. He reaffirmed that Uzbekistan will continue its partnership with Afghanistan in areas including mining, electricity, agriculture, the preservation and restoration of historical sites, and the promotion of cultural cooperation.
The Prime Minister underscored Uzbekistan's readiness to advance the Trans-Afghan project and said that Uzbekistan will train 100 specialists in railways and aviation. Moreover, Uzbekistan will facilitate agricultural education for 500 Afghan students.
The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan also highlighted his country's commitment to providing its expertise and resources to support the economic development of Afghanistan. Additionally, he stated that arrangements have been made to simplify visa issuance for Afghan students and traders.
Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov announced that the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate will be officially welcomed in Tashkent soon. He also extended an invitation to Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan for an official visit to Tashkent, which was accepted.
H.E Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, welcomed the Uzbek Prime Minister's visit to Kabul and said that this visit represents a significant development in the relations and friendship between the two countries. He emphasized that Uzbekistan, as an impartial neighbor, has consistently supported peace and stability in Afghanistan, and the Islamic Emirate highly values its relationship with Uzbekistan.
Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir also said that Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, as neighboring Muslim nations, have numerous shared interests that facilitate the enhancement of bilateral relations and cooperation.
He mentioned that the Islamic Emirate also aims to establish positive relations with Uzbekistan, the region, and the global community, viewing the economic development of Afghanistan and the region as a central priority of its foreign policy.
Deputy Prime Minister further mentioned that countries and international organizations should recognize the Islamic Emirate as the legitimate government of Afghanistan and that only the Islamic Emirate can represent Afghanistan and its people in international forums.
H.E Mawlawi Abdul Kabir also expressed the hope that Afghanistan’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) would be secured and that the collective concerns of its members would be addressed.
Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir reaffirmed that no threats will emanate from Afghan soil.
He highlighted that Afghanistan possesses significant investment potential in various sectors, including energy, transportation, industry, and agriculture, and he encouraged all investors, particularly those from Uzbekistan, to invest in Afghanistan.
He further highlighted that the Islamic Emirate intends to utilize Afghanistan’s strategic geographical location to position the country as a regional hub, connecting Central Asia with South Asia. He underscored that achieving regional connectivity is not feasible without the cooperation and transit facilities provided by Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
In closing, Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir assured that the Islamic Emirate is prepared to support and advance regional projects such as TAPI, CASA-1000, and others, and affirmed that Afghanistan’s stability and development are crucial for the overall stability and progress of the region.
