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AT News – During the visit of the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Uzbekistan to Kabul, officials from the three countries signed a feasibility study agreement for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project. Bilateral and trilateral meetings were also held.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan’s interim government announced on Thursday that the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Uzbekistan, heading high-ranking delegations, traveled to Kabul for bilateral and trilateral talks.
Published images show Bakhtiyor Saidov, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister, being welcomed by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Taliban administration, upon his arrival in Kabul.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who currently serves as both Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, arrived in Kabul on Thursday for a one-day visit.
Later, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry reported that Ishaq Dar met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, Foreign Minister of the interim government, and discussed topics such as strengthening trade cooperation, transit, and security.
Both the interim Afghan government and Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that during this visit, a feasibility study agreement for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project was signed by representatives from all three sides.
Meeting Between the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Uzbekistan and the Prime Minister of the Afghan Interim Government
During the visit, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister also met with Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister of the interim government, and invited him to visit Pakistan.
According to a statement released by Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the interim government, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund stated during the meeting: “No problem can be solved through force or threats. We ask Allah Almighty to grant us success in resolving challenges through goodwill, understanding, cooperation, brotherhood, and good neighborliness.”
Bakhtiyor Saidov, the Uzbek Foreign Minister, also held a separate meeting with the Prime Minister of the interim government, during which Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund called for stronger ties.
Three-Nation Railway Project
The planned railway project is expected to connect Uzbekistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan, providing Central Asian countries with access to Pakistan’s seaports.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that, in addition, a trilateral consultative meeting was held to discuss political understandings and issues among the three countries.
This comes at a time when Afghanistan’s interim government has only been officially recognized by Russia. Although Uzbekistan and Pakistan have not formally recognized the interim Afghan government, both maintain close diplomatic and trade relations with it.
