Officials from the Islamic Emirate discussed trade, transit, energy, and regional connectivity with Uzbek officials on Saturday in Uzbekistan.
PM Deputy Abdul Salam Hanafi said they agreed on a range of issues, adding that Uzbekistan has promised to support the people of Afghanistan with essential items as winter is approaching.
“We agreed on some issues, and they have promised to cooperate,” he said.
According to Hanafi, both sides have discussed regional connectivity and the Islamic Emirate is ready to secure trade and transit routes in and through Afghanistan.
He said they have also discussed the construction of the Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway. This railway connects Termez city in Uzbekistan to the Pakistani city of Peshawar via Afghanistan’s Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul.
“We agreed in principle about the Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway. We support this project,” Hanafi added.
In this meeting, Uzbek officials promised not to cut off the imported electricity into Afghanistan despite Afghanistan owing electricity payments.
Hanafi also said Uzbekistan will cooperate with the reactivation of Mazar-e-Sharif airport and with training the technical staff of the airport.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate in a statement said that technical working groups from both sides have been formed and are continuing their discussions and will draft a cooperation roadmap in 10 days which will be shared with the leadership teams of both sides.
“Good talks were had and different working groups have been formed,” said Anaamullah Samangani, a member of the Cultural Commission of the Ministry of Information and Culture said.
Uzbekistan PM Deputy Sardor Umurzakov, who led the Uzbek delegation, also said both sides have discussed trade, transit, energy and economic relations.
Umurzakov has said both sides will continuing their discussions to follow through on the pledged cooperation.
