Uzbekistan’s initiative plays an important role in reaching the Peace Agreement on Afghanistan

February 29, 2020 went down in history as a significant date not only for the region’s people, but also for countries all over the world. Thanks to the initiative, political will and practical aspirations of the President of Uzbekistan on Afghanistan, which for forty years has suffered from a long war and endless hostilities, a historical foundation has been laid on the path to peace, harmony and prosperity.

The United States of America and the Taliban Movement has signed an Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan, in the city of Doha, Qatar. Uzbekistan delegation also attended this historic event.

Peace is the most priceless wealth. Humanity has always sought to preserve it and this remains its dream. Despite the fact that so many years equal to one human life have passed, Afghan people, tired of war and hardships, were deprived of the most valuable thing – the peace. 

Uzbek and Afghan people are connected by a centuries-old history, a single religion, common traditions and values. Our people have always empathized and passed through their hearts all the problems of Afghan people, sought to lend a helping hand to them. 

At the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tashkent hosted an international high-level conference on Afghanistan “Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional Connectivity” in March 2018. 

At the event, the international community supported the initiatives forwarded by the President of Uzbekistan to ensure peace in the neighboring Afghanistan. 

The conference was attended by the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, as well as the heads of foreign affairs agencies of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, representatives of 25 state and international organizations. 

It should be noted that Tashkent Conference accelerated the process of establishing peace in Afghanistan. At the event, the Head of the state forwarded the following important initiatives: 

the first is development of basic principles of a peaceful settlement and the achievement of a broad international consensus on them; 

the second is development of a mechanism for launching negotiations between the Afghan government and the armed opposition; 

the third is the adoption of a roadmap for the international community to assist in the process of national reconciliation in Afghanistan. 

And finally, the resolute and unanimous appeal of all interested external forces to the armed opposition with a call to sit at the negotiating table with the Afghan government and put an end to confrontation and violence will be invaluable. 

Forwarding these initiatives, the Head of the state emphasized that there is no other way. These initiatives were the main idea of the international conference on Afghanistan.

After the President’s initiatives, direct ties began to be established between the parties and political forces, as this issue was also enshrined in the final document – Declaration of the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan: Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional Connectivity. 

Participants of the Tashkent Conference confirmed that the establishment of peace and security in Afghanistan will help ensure stability and prosperity in the region, eradicate the long-standing violence and suffering of the Afghan people. 

They also emphasized that a political settlement by the leadership of Afghanistan and the efforts of the Afghan people of mutual regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism and drug smuggling, as well as regional economic cooperation and partnership, are important in ensuring peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region as a whole. 

Delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan also arrived at the ceremony of signing the historic agreement in Doha aimed at establishing peace in Afghanistan. Prior to the ceremony of signing the peace agreement, meetings were held with special representatives of a number of states for Afghanistan. 

At the meeting with the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad it was emphasized that the Uzbek side and the initiatives forwarded by the President of Uzbekistan at Tashkent Conference played an important role in the speedy launch of the peace process in Afghanistan. Prospects for development of Afghanistan were also discussed. 

At the meeting with representatives of the Taliban Movement, the parties expressed mutual interest in establishing peace in Afghanistan. 

At the meeting, it was noted that it was not easy to come to the negotiation process. Representatives of the Taliban Movement emphasized: “We are neighbors, we are achieving peace thanks to the efforts of Uzbekistan”. They also stated that they rely on Uzbekistan in development and ensuring peace in Afghanistan. In addition, it was noted that Uzbekistan strove for this, while maintaining the status of neutrality between the political forces of Afghanistan, which gave the expected results. 

Uzbekistan’s readiness was expressed in establishing direct negotiations between the government of Afghanistan and domestic political forces, as well as in practical assistance in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. 

Bilateral meetings and negotiations were also held within the framework of the event. Opinions were expressed regarding the current stage of ensuring peace in Afghanistan and development of this country in the future. Issues of practical cooperation were discussed. 

At the meetings, representatives of international delegations appreciated the final document adopted at Tashkent Conference as a declaration that marked the signing of a historic agreement.

This was also emphasized at Doha meeting. In particular, practical aspirations for Afghanistan began after the Tashkent Conference, which was recognized by representatives of international organizations and major powers as an important historical event, the beginning of the peace process in Afghanistan. 

The U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo attended the signing ceremony of the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan.