Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - Ensuring stability in Afghanistan will boost regional cooperation. This was stated by the executive director of the Pakistani Center for Global and Strategic Studies Khalid Taimur Akram, speaking at the third section session: “Regional security. Challenges and Threats” of the international high-level conference “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities”, which takes place on 15-16 July in Tashkent.

The countries of the Central Asian region play a significant role in solving common security problems, strengthening the cross-border security infrastructure and the long-term Afghan conflict. In this aspect, His Excellency the President of Uzbekistan, Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, played a dynamic role in the socio-economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and the stability of regional security. Uzbekistan considers Afghanistan an integral part and thus optimizes its efforts to establish peace and include Afghanistan in inclusive economic development projects to ensure regional connectivity.

Great efforts to integrate the current Uzbek leadership have led to comprehensive socio-economic progress in the region and beyond. This conference provided more valuable and practical solutions for expanding regional cooperation.

The event, which was held under the auspices of the UN, was attended by President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, and heads and deputy heads of foreign affairs agencies, delegations from more than 40 countries and 30 international organizations, experts from authoritative research and analytical structures.