Dr Mehmood-ul-Hassan Khan
A new security “triangle” is on the horizon which may further connect South Asia with Central Asia. Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan are inching towards formation of a new security triangle in the region to safeguard their respective vested interests and achieving sustained regional harmony and peace at large. Sustainable peace in Afghanistan has regional as well as international corollaries which will definitely further enhance regional connectivity, trade activities and economy. Regional countries especially, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have played tremendous role to bring peace in Afghanistan through negotiations, track-II diplomacy, dialogue and development. Most recently, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Mohammad Haneef Atmar, visited Uzbekistan with a high-level delegation and met with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.
During the meeting, both the sides agreed on the signing of a “power” transmission agreement between Breshna Shirkat and the Uzbek Ministry of Energy as well as expanding cooperation in trade and transport. Both sides also discussed the importance of reconciliation in Afghanistan and the role of Uzbekistan in promoting peace and building regional consensus. Foreign minister of Uzbekistan Kamilov highlighted Afghanistan’s important position in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy. He termed this as historic trip which would further enhance political and economic cooperation between the two countries and strengthen relations in the diverse fields of trade, transport, electricity and energy. He also emphasized Uzbekistan’s support for an “Afghan-led & owned” peace process and the position of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He hoped the immediate start of negotiations between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban.
On his part Afghan acting Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar appreciated Uzbekistan’s vital role and support for the peace process and the position of the Government of Afghanistan informing Mr Kamilov about the need for an early start of peace talks and preservation of Afghan Government to ensure a lasting peace. He assured that the leadership of the IRA had a strong will to strengthen and expand relations with Uzbekistan. The two sides agreed on a roadmap aimed at unifying the views of the leaders of the two countries in order to develop and expand long-term relations.
We are passing through interesting times wherein interesting trends are rapidly happening. Most recently, a delegation from the Afghan Taliban visited Pakistan to discuss the ongoing peace process with the Pakistani leadership ahead of expected intra-Afghan dialogue. For brightening and speeding up of prospects of “intra-Afghan dialogue” the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan invited Taliban for which a high-level Islamic Emirate, Taliban delegation led by Deputy Political Chief, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar visited Pakistan. During the meeting, matters of Afghan peace process, state of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, cross-border travel of people and trade between the two neighbours were thoroughly discussed. Swapping of prisoners has now enhanced the chances of intra-Afghan dialogue. Afghanistan has so far released 4,600 Taliban prisoners, in addition to 500 prisoners who were not on the Taliban’s list, according to local media.
Being a peace loving country, Pakistan facilitated the USA to have direct talks with the Taliban in December 2019, paving the way for a negotiated settlement of the haunting conflict. Pakistan also smoothed the “landmark” first round of direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Islamabad in July 2015. Unfortunately, that process warped after the Taliban announced the death of their long-time leader Mullah Omar, eliciting a bitter internal power struggle. It was further deteriorated because of various complex and complicated reasons during 2016-2017 due to which level of trust, peace and harmony was badly eroded. Most recently, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi of the People’s Republic of China and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held the 2nd Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Hainan Province. The two sides exchanged views on COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest, and reached consensus to collectively take measures to safeguard their common interests and promote peace, prosperity and development in the region. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on the Afghan issue and appreciated the efforts made by Afghan government and the Taliban to initiate the intra-Afghan negotiations. They both emphasized the importance of an “inclusive”, “broad-based” and “comprehensive” negotiated agreement for future political settlement in Afghanistan. They pledged their support to an “Afghan-led” and “Afghan-owned Peace Process (AOPP) and both sides encouraged all stakeholders and relevant parties in Afghanistan to avail advantage from this historic opportunity and commence the intra-Afghan negotiations (IAN) at the earliest leading to durable peace and stability in Afghanistan. China appreciated Pakistan’s positive contribution to the Afghan peace process and efforts for promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Historically, Uzbekistan first president Islam Karimov proposed “6+3 Contact Group” to resolve the issue of Afghanistan. Whereas, Pakistan presented “6+2” formula in which Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, all immediate neighbours of Afghanistan had a contributory role to bring peace to Afghanistan. Right from the beginning, Uzbekistan and Pakistan desired to find a “workable” formula to win hearts and souls of people of Afghanistan through peace and harmony, intensive economic cooperation with Afghanistan including the northern regions of Afghanistan and successful implementation of transit trade mechanism between Pakistan and Afghanistan and transport and logistics projects, and expansion of educational programs of Uzbekistan got momentum.
Tashkent succeeded to achieve bilateral cooperation with Kabul through the implementation of various befitting economic propositions and meaningful logistics projects to further enhance regional connectivity. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan introduced a new comprehensive and befitting foreign policy to achieve peace and harmony in Afghanistan. It was innovative” and result oriented which succeeded to bring peace in Afghanistan. Its willingness to cooperate with international main stakeholders and offering of various projects in different sectors i.e. economic, logistics, education, etc., and even initiation of meaningful track-II diplomacy is now bringing results. Role of Pakistan and Uzbekistan is “essential” for bringing peace and harmony to Afghanistan, the “connecting” hub between Asia and Central Asia. Pakistan is the “gate-way” to Central Asia whereas Uzbekistan is the “heaven” of further connectivity. Being prominent regional expert of Uzbekistan, I suggest “close” liaison and “political” consultation to trigger socio-economic activities and enhance energy connectivity between all three countries.
—The writer is Director, Geopolitics/Economics Member Board of Experts, CGSS.
