Tashkent International Conference on Afghanistan titled ‘Afghanistan: Security and Economic Development’ was held in Tashkent with the participation of Afghanistan delegation led by acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi and representatives of the U.S., India, Pakistan, Britain, China, Europe and a number of international organizations.
In the conference, the participants discussed suggestions and steps in connection with engagement and better interaction of the world with Afghanistan in various sectors. Security, economic development and regional connectivity of Afghanistan were considered as main goals of holding the conference.
In the conference, acting minister of foreign affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi delivered speech and by pointing to achievements of the IEA in the past one year said: “It has been eleven months since the August 15th political change, and announcement of a new government in Afghanistan. During this short period, our government has had invaluable achievements. The new government managed to establish security, revive the security sector, maintain government infrastructure and personnel, continue providing basic services to citizens, for the first time ever declare a national budget purely reliant on state revenues, uproot corruption and assure objective inclusivity.”
“We restored Afghan security institutes, recruited up to one hundred thousand youths to the national army and up to one hundred and eighty thousand to the national police.
The firm security is the result of efforts of the same committed and professional security officials and forces,” Muttaqi said, adding that the IEA has created a contact group for the return of former political figures as a number of former senior and junior officials of the previous administration have returned to the country.
He said the IEA believed that Afghanistan was the shared home of Afghans and all had the right to a dignified life in their homeland.
In his speech, acting minister of foreign affairs called on the U.S. to release Afghanistan assets as the country’s people were facing with poverty.
“The fact is that our country has been devastated by a two-decade conflict and our economic system crushed under the U.S. sanctions, combining as the main drivers of poverty. These actions have not only hampered foreign investment and financial transactions, but also impacted government activities which purely benefit the general public,” Amir Khan Muttaqi stressed.
In the conference, acting minister of foreign affairs called on the world countries to begin official engagement with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to secure long-term legitimate bilateral interests. Participation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) delegation in Tashkent international conference was important. Such conference helps the Afghan delegation to share achievements the IEA obtained in the past 11 months.
The conference participants have also considered holding such meetings on Afghanistan as important as the new government of Afghanistan needs continued support from both regional and world countries.
It is worth mentioning that the IEA is fully ready to establish positive relations with all world countries in the framework of mutual respect and legitimate bilateral interests. Besides, the Islamic Emirate also calls on world countries to fulfill their responsibilities in this regard.
The IEA has repeatedly urged the United States of America to unconditionally release all reserves of Afghanistan central bank and lift all economic sanctions on Afghanistan. This is considered a fundamental step towards normalization of relations, and this will have a positive impact on the mindset of Afghans vis-a-vis America.
Zarabi
IEA maintains security, manages to provide services to all, FM
