Borders should be reopened, relations should be resumed as security sure in Afghanistan

Borders between Afghanistan and some central Asian nations are still closed, since the power takeover by the Islamic Emirate forces two years ago. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are among the neighboring countries with still border closure, causing trade and transit stranded between the two sides. However, relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan has good condition. The exchange of views between the Islamic Emirate and Uzbek officials, over many issues, including politics, trade, border security, etc is continuing and the two sides, through dispatching delegations managed to overcome all alleged challenges ahead. Recently, Jamshid Kuchkarov, the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy and Finance, leading a high state delegation visited Afghanistan and met with a number of the Islamic Emirate’s high-ranking officials, pledging that Uzbekistan will cooperate in the transit, trade and agriculture sectors of Afghanistan. The Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister, during his visit to the country, met with the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar, and some other government high-ranking officials. The delegation, including ministers of agriculture and water resources of Uzbekistan sought to use their experiences in the related sectors in Afghanistan. Both sides, according to credible sources, discussed trade, transit and economic relations as well as cooperation in railways, transport, mining, water management and the facilitation of educational opportunities for Afghan youth. Indefinitely, the visits of the senior delegation show that the relationship between the two countries are strengthening and hope raises that good improvements will come, particularly in the field of trade and transit. The Islamic Emirate authorities are making efforts to increase trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to 3 billion U.S. dollars and that the Hairatan port will remain operational 24/7, beginning from next month, while the trade between the two countries was only 600 million U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the officials of the two countries should boost facilities for the two countries’ traders. All what happened positive in the country, after the resumption of power by the Islamic Emirate, is the fruitful outcome of peace and security ensured in the country as there was no security before in Afghanistan, where, only poppy have been grown, while the country is now a good field for investment. The country’s capital also hosted an exhibition showcased Uzbek products with the presence of the delegation in the Chaman-e-Huzori park, the other day. Also, other neighboring countries of central Asia, like Tajikistan, with long suspension of ties, should resume relations with Afghanistan, put an end to border closure to all communications including ordinary travels of the two countries people and help strengthen bilateral trade further than ever, as border closure is subversive and in no side interest. On the other hand, the Islamic Emirate has frequently announced that it would never interfere in other countries’ internal affairs and never allow others to meddle in its internal affairs.