Speech of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund During Meeting with the President of Uzbekistan
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
To the Honorable President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the accompanying delegation:
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you!
It is a pleasure to meet with you on the sidelines of the ECO Summit and to discuss political relations and economic issues between our two countries—especially matters related to railway connectivity, electricity, trade, transit, and visa facilitation.
The Republic of Uzbekistan has adopted a constructive and principled position regarding Afghanistan on the international stage. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan thanks you for this positive and realistic stance and expresses its desire for continued strong relations between our two countries.
As a neighboring brother nation, Uzbekistan holds a special place in the hearts of Afghans, and both nations are connected by deep religious, cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and historical bonds.
On behalf of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, I extend my gratitude for Uzbekistan's overall cooperation and, most recently, for the humanitarian assistance of 100 metric tons of food supplies.
We are pleased that the gift of marble stones sent by us for the shrine of Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) was accepted. Imam Bukhari rendered a great service to the Islamic Ummah, and his legacy plays a significant role in promoting unity and Islamic brotherhood among Muslims.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan calls for further facilitation in the issuance of visas for Afghan citizens, which would greatly enhance the development of economic and cultural relations between our two nations.
Trade volume between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan has exceeded one billion USD, marking a 60% increase compared to previous figures. We hope this volume will reach two billion USD in the near future. In this regard, we propose assigning relevant authorities from both sides to jointly work on achieving this target.
Afghan traders face challenges in obtaining export permits when trading with Uzbekistan. Not every trader is able to obtain the required permit, which complicates the export of their goods.
I firmly believe that, considering the available opportunities and mutual needs, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan can become strong economic partners in the region. There is a need for both countries to collaborate in the areas of mining, transport, transit, services, regional infrastructure, and the initiation and management of strategic projects. This collaboration will play a key role in fostering economic stability, growth, and prosperity for both nations in the near future.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has created investment opportunities—both domestic and foreign—in sectors such as textile manufacturing, cement production, oil refining, salt mining and processing, e-governance, and more. Given Uzbekistan’s experience and interest in these areas, we invite and welcome investment from your side.
Just as Afghanistan has provided transit access for Uzbekistan’s exports to South Asia and the Arab world, we hope that Uzbekistan will facilitate Afghan exports to Central Asian countries and Russia, enabling Afghan products to reach much-needed markets.
The Central Bank of Uzbekistan should provide the necessary facilities to strengthen interbank relations with Afghanistan, lift current restrictions, and establish robust connections between the banking systems of both countries. This will play a vital role in significantly expanding bilateral trade.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is committed to all political, economic, and cultural relations with the Republic of Uzbekistan and seeks to further strengthen our bilateral ties.
Wassalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.