Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Speaking at the Ministerial meeting "European Union - Central Asia" in Samarkand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov dwelled separately on the Afghan issue.

The Uzbek Foreign Minister said that modern Afghanistan is not only a source of challenges and threats, but also new opportunities.

The importance of preventing the isolation of Afghanistan and its transformation into a pariah country, as well as taking measures to resolve the current difficult humanitarian situation, was noted. Vladimir Norov called on the international community to take coordinated efforts and provide real practical assistance to the Afghan people.

Uzbekistan actually renders assistance to the neighboring state. Our country has repeatedly sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev initiated the establishment of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Support Fund in Termez, where an International transport and logistics hub with modern infrastructure has been created.

As Vladimir Norov stated, Uzbekistan remains a consistent supporter of the fulfillment by the Taliban of the basic requirements of the world community - the creation of a government based on broad representation, the observance of the rights of women and national minorities, and the final severing of ties with terrorist groups. The attention of the event participants was drawn to the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan to form a high-level international negotiating group to coordinate with the Afghan authorities the phased fulfillment of the obligations of the parties.

It was emphasized that the implementation of infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, incl. in the field of transport should be among the priorities of interaction with the Afghan side. Through such major projects as the construction of the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway, Afghanistan can become a link between Central and South Asia.