Representatives of Uzbekistan, USIP Discuss Formation of Negotiating Group on Afghanistan
Ismatullah Irgashev, Uzbekistan's special envoy for Afghanistan, and Barmak Pazhwak from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) discussed the situation in Afghanistan.
Tashkent announced that the meeting was more focused on Uzbekistan's initiative to form an UN-led international negotiating group for Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan said that the senior coordinator of the United States Institute of Peace had appreciated Tashkent's efforts on issues related to Afghanistan.
The idea of forming an international group to negotiate with the Taliban under the auspices of the United Nations had been announced last year by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Mirziyoyev and Uzbek diplomats have followed up on the idea of the formation of this group in most regional and international forums on Afghanistan.
Earlier, the Uzbek president in a meeting with the President of the European Council said that Afghanistan should not become a source of threat to the region and the world. He suggested that an international group should be formed to negotiate with the Taliban.
Uzbekistan said that the representatives of various countries have welcomed this idea. However, so far, no more details have been provided about the progress of the formation of this group.
