Participants of the international conference "Afghanistan: Security and Economic Development" held in the capital of Uzbekistan on July 25-26 will discuss the actions of the international community to provide urgent humanitarian aid to the Afghan people and promote economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Yusup Kabulzhanov, official representative of the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan, said that the main objectives of the event are "development of coordinated action of the international community in the Afghan vector, specific proposals and actions for economic reconstruction of the country, provision of the Afghan people with urgent humanitarian assistance." At that, he noted that the participants of the high-level event hope to hear from the delegation of the provisional government of Afghanistan formed by the Taliban (banned in the Russian Federation) about the fulfillment by the new authorities in Kabul of the "key requirements of the world community". The Afghan delegation is headed by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
First of all, it is about the reaffirmation by Kabul of its earlier commitments not to let Afghanistan's territory be used against the interests of neighboring countries, other countries of the region and the whole world. The international community also expects Kabul to establish an inclusive government, respect the rights of women and ensure that girls have access to school education. "This will be a fundamental condition for the completion of the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan," Kabulzhanov specified.
Conference participants
According to the Uzbek side, which is organizing the event, it is expected to be attended by special representatives for Afghanistan from Britain, the European Union, Iran, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, China, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, USA, Tajikistan, Turkey, Japan and other countries, leaders of the United Nations and its bodies, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as representatives of international financial institutions, in total about 100 foreign delegations.
Implementation of large projects
It is expected that during the conference the Uzbek side will urge the international community to actively develop trade relations with Afghanistan, start large infrastructure projects in the transport and communication and energy sectors in the country, unfreeze the financial assets of Afghanistan blocked in foreign banks, and seek to engage the international community in regional economic processes.
According to the agenda, presentation of such major projects as construction of Termez - Mazar-e-Sharif - Kabul - Peshawar railroad and Surkhan - Pul-e-Khumri transmission line will be held by Uzbekistan during the conference. According to the Uzbek side, their implementation will not only create thousands of new jobs, but also solve many socio-economic problems of the Afghan society, which will promote peace and stability in that country.
The event participants will also be briefed on the activities of the international multifunctional transport and logistics hub in Termez, through which humanitarian aid is sent to Afghanistan, as well as on the activities of the educational center for training Afghan citizens in Termez.
Uzbekistan is expected to make a statement at the end of the conference as the host country.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: David Mark/Pixabay
Based on materials from TASS