The Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, met on Tuesday evening with a delegation led by Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov, which also included Ismatulla Irgashev, Uzbekistan's special envoy for Afghanistan. The meeting was held at the Arg (Presidential Palace).
According to a statement released by the Arg, the meeting was also attended by the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.
The Prime Minister welcomed the Uzbek delegation and described the relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan as historical and longstanding.
The Uzbek Foreign Minister conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the Prime Minister and the Afghan nation, and said:
“Today is a historic day for both Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. A political consultative meeting took place between the two countries, and a trilateral memorandum of understanding was signed regarding the feasibility of the Trans-Afghan railway line.”
The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan considered the continued efforts for political stability, economic progress, and improved living conditions of the Afghan people as significant achievements, saying it shows that Afghanistan is on a good path toward development.
He referred to the positive engagement of the Islamic Emirate with most countries in the region and the world, stating that Uzbekistan has supported the Afghan government and people on the international stage and will continue to do so.
The Uzbek Foreign Minister also thanked the leadership of the Islamic Emirate for its special attention to the restoration of the shrine of Muhammad ibn Ismail Imam al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him), and said that this is a matter of pride not only for Uzbekistan and Afghanistan but for the entire Islamic world.
He added that over a hundred delegations have traveled back and forth between Uzbekistan and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan so far, indicating strong relations between the two countries, and expressed hope that this would continue in the future.
At the end of his speech, he officially invited the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to visit Uzbekistan.
Similarly, the Prime Minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, referred to the good and positive relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan throughout history and expressed hope that these ties would be further strengthened in the future.
The Prime Minister said:
“Uzbekistan is one of those countries that has been a good partner of Afghanistan from the beginning until now. Alongside economic commonalities, we also share spiritual values.”
Pointing to the strong and positive relations with Uzbekistan, he added that Uzbekistan understood that problems are resolved through engagement and dialogue, and for this reason, it chose to have a constructive relationship with the Islamic Emirate.
He also conveyed his greetings and best wishes to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev through the Foreign Minister and said:
“May Allah (SWT) continue and strengthen this brotherhood and cooperation between our two nations.”
