Daily Times

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan shared a “common view” for a political settlement in Afghanistan and added that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict, Radio Pakistan reported.

In a joint press conference with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov in Islamabad, the duo “expressed resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation to promote peace and stability in the region”.

FM Qureshi said: “Pakistan is ready to promote connectivity in the region for the benefit of our people”.

He added that there were many opportunities for the two countries to increase “bilateral cooperation” in trade, tourism and security.

According to Radio Pakistan, Uzbekistan’s FM reiterated that the two countries share a “common approach” for the peace process in Afghanistan as well as in combating terrorism.

He acknowledged the “vital role” Pakistan has played in the fight against terrorism and stability in the region, the report stated.

Kamilov said that the two had discussed strengthening “bilateral cooperation in the fields of transport, road communication, trade, economy and security”.

The Uzbek FM invited his Pakistani counterpart to visit Uzbekistan and thanked him for the hospitality his delegation received in Islamabad. According to reports, Kamilov will also call on Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Published in Daily Times, November 2^nd 2018.