Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In an interview organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the United States, former US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olsen, professor at the School of International Relations at George Washington University James Durso, as well as director of the Center for Afghan Studies at the University of Nebraska in Omaha Sherjan Ahmadzai commented on the role of Uzbekistan in the intra-Afghan peace talks launched in the capital of Qatar, the city of Doha on 12 September.

The senior diplomat noted that Uzbekistan is one of the most supportive neighbors of Afghanistan, contributing to the Afghan peace settlement for many years. According to the former US special envoy for Afghanistan, in the past few years there has been a special dynamic in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy efforts in this direction.

“The Tashkent conference in March 2018 was an important step towards peace on Afghan soil and the current peace process launched by the United States builds on the regional consensus on peacebuilding in Afghanistan,” said Richard Olsen in an interview.

In his opinion, Uzbekistan is also an important trade and economic partner for Afghanistan, as evidenced by the implementation of significant infrastructure projects. “At the same time, Uzbekistan has been and remains an important partner for the United States in its efforts to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan,” the diplomat stressed.

“Uzbekistan is seen as a respected and neutral regional player - the country has the potential to help find compromises between the Taliban and the Afghan government. I believe that the presence of Uzbekistan and its pacifying influence will be felt at the negotiating table, regardless of where it is held,” stressed Richard Olsen.

Professor James Durso noted the significant role of Uzbekistan in building up the human potential of Afghanistan and integrating the country into regional economic processes.

“Uzbekistan and other countries of Central Asia are the gateways for the training of qualified personnel in Afghanistan. Educational centers such as in Termez will contribute to the development of young Afghans in the right direction for the entire region. Practical skills in the field of labor relations, business climate, financial stability and other spheres that they will receive in Uzbekistan will be valuable for them in building their country,” said the expert from the George Washington University.

Commenting on the significant transport potential of Uzbekistan, J. Durso stressed that the International Airport and logistics center in Navoi and the railway line from Termez through Hairaton to Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat with the prospect of connecting with the trade routes of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Pakistan and Iran will have a positive effect on the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The head of the Center for Afghan Studies at Nabraska University Sh. Ahmadzai noted that the United States is convinced of the very good intentions of Uzbekistan, the desire to expand cooperation with Afghanistan and is similar to the efforts of the United States government. This is largely in line with the United States’ vision of the interconnectedness of Central and South Asia in the region. The United States has been involved in Afghanistan since 2001, and it is developing policies in which countries in the region can work closely with each other and regional trade can advance for the benefit of the region.

According to the American researcher, when the initiative for cooperation in Central Asia was put forward by the President of Uzbekistan, it showed how vital regional cooperation is. If Uzbekistan has become a driver of processes in Central Asia, then Afghanistan can become a trade hub or a bridge of the region with Iran, India and South Asia, Sh.Ahmadzai said.

The Doha talks and especially the Loya Jirga decision in Afghanistan provide traditional participants, including Uzbekistan, with an opportunity to further invest in peace and security, long-term economic stability in Afghanistan, the expert is convinced. The Loya Jirga in Kabul announced the release of the remaining 400 Taliban prisoners, a positive step that has stood in the way of peace negotiations, said a University of Nebraska researcher.

Uzbekistan is playing a very positive role in encouraging both the Taliban in their office in Doha and the Afghan government to unite for a consensus that paves the way for long-term stability and peace, as well as strengthening the economy and increased trade between the two countries, especially stressed the American researcher.

“The goal of bringing bilateral trade to US$1.5 billion is significant, especially during a pandemic. This will be a huge step in promoting regional ties and trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan,” Sh.Ahmadzai said.

According to the expert, “The United States supports Uzbekistan’s efforts to increase regional cooperation and involve Afghanistan in these processes. The Donald Trump administration supports economic growth in which growth itself must occur within the countries of the region. There is huge potential for development, and this should be invested in. There are great opportunities for bilateral trade relations and regional ties, where Uzbekistan and Afghanistan can play an important role in establishing long-term peace and sustainable development throughout Central Asia. "

“The initiatives of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev have yielded very positive results, and they have received a very positive assessment in Afghanistan, both in public and government circles. The Afghan government and people are very pleased with the broader involvement of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his Administration in the Afghan direction. People are very optimistic and positive about the participation of the Uzbek Government in the Afghan issue, which has always been positive, especially in efforts to unite all partners in the Afghan peace process,” Sherjan Ahmadzai said.

The expert noted that when it comes to the Afghan peace process, everyone should understand that the countries involved in the Afghan peace process play an important role, including Uzbekistan, offering to hold peace talks in Samarkand, and then receiving Taliban delegations in August 2019. “These steps were necessary to establish a dialogue with both sides. We can celebrate the visit of Foreign Minister Abulaziz Kamilov to Kabul in 2018, when he negotiated with the Afghan government and other countries in the region. We can also mention the meetings with Taliban leaders in Doha, where Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and Uzbekistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ismatilla Irgashev met with Mullah Baradar Akhund to discuss the peace process in Afghanistan. It was an important step, ”the American researcher emphasized.

According to Sh.Ahmadzai, all this testifies to Uzbekistan’s interest in peace and security and opens the door to new opportunities for bilateral trade not only for Afghanistan, but also outside Afghanistan to South Asia, Pakistan and India, where Afghanistan is located in the center of these two regions. - Central and South Asia.

According to our diplomatic mission in Washington, Sherjan Ahmadzai is the director of the Center for Afghan Studies at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. Sh. Ahmadzai held various positions in the Administration of the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Before leaving Afghanistan, he worked as Director of the Presidential Meetings Service in the Office of the Afghan President, in charge of managing the daily schedule of President Hamid Karzai.