Renewing Centuries-Old Ties: Afghanistan-Uzbekistan Friendship and Regional Cooperation

Keypoints: 

• Historic Ties: Reviving Afghanistan-Uzbekistan bonds
• Regional Cooperation: Promoting stability and prosperity
• Economic Partnership: Expanding trade, railways, and energy links
• Shared Civilization: Preserving Islamic culture and tolerance
• Implementation: Committing to actionable agreements
• Diplomatic Engagement: Strengthening visits and exchanges
• Friendship: Building trust and long-term partnership

Tashkent, Uzbekistan | December 5, 2017

[Translated from Uzbek language]

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Honorable nation of Uzbekistan, our brother and friend country;

Assalamu Alaikum [May peace be upon you]

Please accept sincere greetings, regards and earnest gratitude of the peace-loving and noble people of Afghanistan.

I and my colleagues have paid this official visit to revive and strengthen a vital and historical, but weakened during the last century, bond with a new spirit.

Common history and culture binds two friend nations together. We are honored that “Uzbek” is the third official language in our country. Thinker personalities like Amir Ali Sher Nawai, Khushal Khan Khattak raised their call for justice. If we describe it with Amir Ali Sher Nawai’s words, “Those who have no sympathy for human pain must not be called human-being.”

[Delivered in English]

Mr. President;

107 - 109 | Statements by President Ghani

On behalf of the people and government of Afghanistan, let me thank you for an exceptional reception accorded to me, your brother, to my delegation and to the trust you have placed in the future prosperity and stability of my country Afghanistan.

This is, indeed, a historic day, first because on this day the great nation of Uzbekistan elected you their president; congratulation on the first anniversary.

I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate you on the 26th anniversary of the independence of Uzbekistan. In these 26 years, you have accomplished great deeds. And during this year, you have brought a new momentum that is unprecedented.

In the Samarkand Conference, you laid down a new agenda for regional cooperation as result of which every single one of your neighbors has been enriched and made more stable and more secure.

Mr. President;

You are positioning along with, the heart of Asia, as the heart of connection between East Asia, West Asia, South Asia and Central Asia.

Our agenda that cooperation is far more advantageous than disagreement and conflict offers the prospect of prosperity and stability for all our citizens who are truly brothers and sisters.

Your four-year plan which was conceived and is under implementation in a short period is a great inspiration for the Uzbek people and a promise cooperation for us.

We are pleased that our own four-year plan for 2017 to 2021 fits very well with your agenda. And your address to the United Nations where you particularly highlighted the need for a common stance against terrorism and supported the recent strategy of President Trump regarding Afghanistan and argued for Afghanistan for a stable Afghanistan is welcomed with full heart and attitude by us.

The establishment of institute of Islamic civilization in Tashkent and the institute of Imam Bukhari in Samarqand are major steps to reclaim our great civilization and culture of moderation and tolerance.

Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev;

Since you explained in detail our agreements and common vision, I will brief on other points.

We have created the virtuous circle of good intentions, political will, common program and a commitment to implementation.

Today, we signed agreements that create the legal proper framework of state to state cooperation on our key desires and wishes. So my proposal is that 2018 is going to be the year of delivery, the year of implementation and the relentless pursuit of translating our goals into deliverable.

We have to make every human effort to see Surkhan connected to Puli-Khumri through the transmission line. And we have to devote the next month to see how we are going to move to implementation and financing the railway from Mazar-i-Sharif to Herat.

Let me assure the people of Uzbekistan and the Government of Uzbekistan that the people and Government of Afghanistan have every intention to transform Uzbekistan into our major trading and transit partner.

We should put specific targets to increase our trade and form joint ventures and companies to benefit both countries and both people.

My dear brother;

I have been touched like every Afghan has been touched by your hospitality, by the welcome, by the sincerity and by your commitment for a stable and prosperous Central Asia and the heart of a prosperous and thriving Asia. So let me extend an invitation on behalf of the Government and the people of Afghanistan for an official visit of Your Excellency to Afghanistan.

Now that there is a direct flight between Tashkent and Kabul, we expect a lot more of your officials in particularly Mr. Estmatullah Eirgoshov and a lot more visits from us to you. One hundred years of separation will be made up for with enormous speed and commitment.

Let 400 years from now remember that the President of Uzbekistan and President of Afghanistan, with full support of their people, laid a foundation for renewing a thousand-year-old tradition.

Long live Uzbekistan; long live the friendship between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan!