Security issues, taking into account the situation in Afghanistan, are on the agenda of the Consultative meeting of the heads of the countries of the region

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 21 July 2022, another Consultative meeting of the heads of states of Central Asia was held in the city of Cholpon-ata in Kyrgyzstan.

An important contribution to the consolidation of the countries of Central Asia belongs to the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who in 2016 declared Central Asia a priority of the country’s foreign policy and is making efforts to build a multilateral dialogue as an important condition for constructively solving regional problems and creating a space of common prosperity, which meets the fundamental interests of the fraternal peoples, today enjoys universal support in all the states of Central Asia.

Awareness of common regional interests, the emergence of new common challenges and threats, pushes us to develop common mechanisms and approaches to ensuring regional security, which gives cooperation in Central Asia a new impetus and content.

Unfortunately, there is serious instability in international politics today, and the situation in neighboring Afghanistan inspires certain worries and fears.

One of the most important factors in maintaining and strengthening security and stability in Central Asia remains the soonest settlement of the situation in Afghanistan.

Close cooperation in promoting durable peace in Afghanistan and its social and economic reconstruction must remain a top priority. This will be facilitated by the active development of trade relations with this country, its involvement in regional economic processes, the expansion of humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, and the promotion of important social and infrastructure projects.

The countries of Central Asia should cooperate with Afghanistan and develop closer ties through energy, economic, cultural, trade and security lines that directly contribute to regional stability.

“We are the closest neighbors, like no one else should be interested in stability in this country. It is on us that the way the international community perceives this problem largely depends,” the Leader of Uzbekistan emphasized.

It is a stable dialogue between the countries of Central Asia, the desire of the states of the region to develop sustainable trade and economic relations, based on national interests, that contributes to maintaining predictability and the progressive development of the region.

At present, thanks to the joint efforts of the heads of state, Central Asia is perceived by the world community as a stable, reliable and predictable partner, a space for sustainable development.

The coordinated and coordinated activity of the countries of Central Asia in the international arena will not only significantly strengthen the international subjectivity of the region, but will also effectively promote and defend its interests.

Without a doubt, this Consultative Meeting of the Heads of States of Central Asia will make a significant contribution to the further strengthening of friendship and mutual trust between the countries and peoples of the region, and will become an important factor in deepening and expanding regional cooperation.

Shukhrat Kabilov, Chief Research Fellow of MICA