ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistani PM visits Uzbekistan on Nov 17 to discuss regional security, reports Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif will undertake a two-day official visit to Uzbekistan on November 17-18, during which the two countries would hold deliberations over regional security and prospects of boosting bilateral cooperation in various spheres.
During his stay in Tashkent, Sharif will hold one-on-one meeting with the Uzbek President Islam Karimov and discuss the regional security with especial emphasize on grave security situation in Afghanistan.
Sharif’s meetings with the Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev and member of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan are also scheduled, according to sources in the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.
The two sides are expected to discuss the status and prospects for Pak-Uzbek relations in political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres.
The discussion will also contain exchange of views on regional and international issues.
It is pertinent to mention here that the security situation in Afghanistan has been a cause of series concerns for the world especially the neighboring countries. Recently, the emergence of new hardline militant outfit Islamic State also called as Daesh in the war-torn country has even further deteriorated the security situation, prompting the countries whose borders are linked with Afghanistan to take quick initiatives accordingly.
Following the negotiations between Pak-Uzbek leadership, a joint declaration will be adopted at which the two sides will reaffirm their commitment to eradicate terrorism and strengthen their joint cooperation to fight this menace.
In addition, the two countries will sign a number of bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening the cooperation in various areas including trade, health, education, agricultural and youth exchange.
“Pakistan considers Uzbekistan as a close friend in diplomatic arena,” the sources in the Foreign Ministry said.
The Pakistani premier’s visit to Uzbekistan is part of a series of visits, he has been paying to Central Asia in 2015. Earlier this year, he visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Sharif’s visits to Central Asia in a span of a few months reflects the paradigm shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy which recently tilted towards Russia and former Soviet Republics.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Uzbek President Islam Karimov had extended the invitation to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Tashkent when both the leaders met on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in July 2015 in the Russian City of Ufa.
