ISLAMABAD - Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday said that Pakistan wanted to transform long-standing relations with Uzbekistan into a strategic partnership.
In a meeting with the visiting Secretary of the Security Council of Uzbekistan Lt Gen Victor Makhmudo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan attached special importance to bilateral relations with Uzbekistan.
During the meeting they discussed issues of mutual interest including bilateral relations, defence and military cooperation, and the evolving situation in Afghanistan, said an official statement.
“Bilateral relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan are based on brotherhood based on common religious, cultural and cultural values,” said Qureshi.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Tashkent on July 16-17 and meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev further expanded bilateral relations.
“Pakistan seeks to boost ties with Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, under ‘Vision Central Asia’ policy,” he added.
The Foreign Minister said agreement between Pakistan and Uzbekistan on establishment of a joint security commission will help further strengthen relations between the two countries.
“The agreement will help prevent terrorism, drug trafficking and co-operate in disaster management,” he said.
He recalled that his meeting with the Uzbek Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the second ministerial meeting of Afghanistan’s close neighbours in Tehran was very fruitful.
“Pakistan and Uzbekistan have similar views on Afghanistan. The international community should help the Afghan people to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan,” he stressed.
Peace in Afghanistan, he said, will boost trade and economic ties with Central Asian states. “Pakistan and Uzbekistan, as Afghanistan’s closest neighbours, equally want peace in Afghanistan,” he added.
Both Foreign Ministers vowed to activate existing defence and military cooperation agreements between Pakistan and Uzbekistan
