US, Afghanistan, Pakistan Uzbekistan create new platform for regional cooperation

WASHINGTON: The United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan formed a new diplomatic platform to support peace and stability in Afghanistan and foster regional trade and business ties, the State Department said Friday as US troops continue their planned withdrawal from the country.

“The parties consider long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan critical to regional connectivity and agree that peace and regional connectivity are mutually reinforcing,” it said in a statement. The parties agreed to meet in coming months.

READ: PM IMRAN KHAN DISAPPOINTED OVER PAKISTAN BEING BLAMED FOR AFGHAN UNREST

Earlier in the day, the Foreign Office (FO confirmed the Afghan peace conference scheduled to be held in Islamabad from 17-19 July 2021 “has been postponed until after Eid Al-Adha”

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement released earlier today said, “The new dates of the said Conference will be announced later.”

A MOFA source confirmed to ARY News that the postponement is due to President Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani’s insistence who said he needed time to prepare for it so the government delegate is well equipped to present their side.

Privy to the Afghan peace and regional affairs, analyst Ejaz Awan said a war that has been going on for 40 years cannot be expected to come to a halt overnight and that President Ghani is an important stakeholder in the matter.

READ: PM URGES INT’L COMMUNITY INCLUDING EU TO COME FORWARD TO HELP AFGHAN REFUGEES

“Vote percentage notwithstanding, he won the polls and won Afghan mandate,” Awan said. He added that Ghani did not refuse the talks but only sought time.

Earlier today, delegation-level talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan were held on the sidelines of the “Central and South Asia 2021: Regional Connectivity: Challenges and Opportunities” Conference in Tashkent.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani led his delegation in the talks. Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence (DG-ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz also attended the talks.

The current situation of Afghanistan came under discussion between both leaders. Speaking on the occasion, the premier expressed disappointment over the allegations against Pakistan from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.