From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Oct 02 2000 - 10:22:27 EDT
Afghan-Uzbek diplomatic talks confirm new Uzbek stance onTaleban
Text of report by Afghan Islamic Press news agency on 1st October
Peshawar: An important meeting was held between the Afghan and Uzbek
ambassadors in Islamabad today.
According to reports, the Afghan ambassador [to Pakistan], Mola Abdol Salam
Zaif, and the Uzbek ambassador [to Pakistan], (?Shuhrat Qobilov), had a
meeting in the residence of the Afghan ambassador [in Islamabad] which
lasted for an hour and a quarter.
Speaking to Afghan Islamic Press about this meeting, the Afghan ambassador,
Mola Abdol Salam Zaif, said that the Uzbek ambassador had briefed him on
the speeches made by his [Uzbek] president [Islam Karimov] in Ashgabat
[Turkmenistan] and Bishkek [Kyrgyzstan] and had stated that in Uzbekistan's
opinion the Afghan government's actions were directed towards solving its
own problems and to strengthening its internal position.
The Uzbek ambassador added that he believed that the Taleban would never
intend to interfere in the internal affairs of others.
Mola [Abdol Salam] Zaif said: The Uzbek ambassador advocated that the two
sides [Afghanistan and Uzbekistan] should solve their differences and
problems through dialogue and that this dialogue should be conducted
directly between the two countries.
The Uzbek ambassador said: For these reason there is no need for the
mediation or interposition of any other countries.
The Afghan ambassador said that he welcomed this positive change in Uzbek
policy and told the Uzbek ambassador: Thanks be to God, the realities are
now clear to you.
The Afghan ambassador once again gave assurances that the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan would never interfere in the internal affairs of others and
desired to have good ties and relations with all countries, particularly
its neighbours.
At this meeting discussions were held about matters of mutual interest,
economic and commercial issues and particularly about the export of natural
gas and some other matters. The Afghan ambassador requested that Hayraton
port [on Uzbek-Afghan border] should be opened for exchange of commercial
goods between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Likewise the Afghan ambassador
proposed that for further negotiations, delegations of both sides should be
exchanged.
The Uzbek side promised to present this issue to its government.
Analysts are of the opinion that this shift on Uzbekistan's part is to be
considered a big change. At present it seems that the Taleban victories in
the north have strengthened the stance of the Taleban. In other words, the
countries neighbouring on the Taleban must maintain good-neighbourly
relations with them.
The Taleban's relations with Pakistan and Turkmenistan have long been good
and they are not bad with Iran. Uzbekistan's new stance is a good sign and
heralds the possibility that Tajikistan may also choose the way of
understanding.
Source: Afghan Islamic Press news agency, Peshawar, in Pashto 1325 gmt 01
Oct 00
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