On the position of Uzbekistan for the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan

The leadership of Uzbekistan is deeply convinced of the fact that the solution to the stacking situation in Afghanistan is not possible only militarily. In order to resolute the critical social problems it is necessary to fundamentally change the approaches to the settlement of situation through rendering a single minded economic assistance to Afghanistan. It is very important to recognize the particular mentality and to give due regard to the national religious sentiments, traditions, and customs of the multi-ethnic and multi-confessional Afghan people, and on the basis of this break the consolidation of the opposing factions. The most effective mechanism for attaining this would be by restoring, and renewing the work of the UN sponsored 6+2 Contact Group on Afghanistan, who had worked in mid 90’s. The format of the group could be reorganized, making it into a 6+3, including NATO.

As far as the position, consideration and approach of the leadership of Uzbekistan towards the resolution of the Afghan problem goes, then it can be stated as, that it expresses the principal approach to resolving this issue: a military resolution to the problem in Afghanistan is unacceptable. Harmony and accord along with stability has to be reached in Afghanistan, but further militarization of not only Afghanistan, but the surrounding countries does not have any prospects. This has become clear to the whole world, and is being talked about by all, above all the generals and the representatives of NATO, the U.S. and especially Great Britain.Today, the leadership of Uzbekistan once again reiterates the significance and topicality of its latest initiative, which it had earlier taken up at the NATO/SEAP session in Bucharest: resolve all issues by involving all the countries of the region bordering Afghanistan and in particular, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, and China. Over the years all these countries have become convinced of the serious consequences this leads to as well as to its escalation, and the fact that the end of this war is not visible.

Today “Taliban” has become powerful not only because it is operating on the ideologies of the “Al Kaida” and other radical powers, but also due to the fact that the power of the “Taliban” lies mainly, which no one can negate, in that they deal with ordinary afghans, who are dissatisfied especially by the way the war is going on in Afghanistan, and thereby reinforcing the ranks of the Taliban.

It has been already 8 years since the beginning of the latest stage of the war. Over this period more and more people are becoming convinced that the actions of the military contingent stationed there are taking up overt characteristics of an occupation. The longer this position continues, then the powers which are at present fighting against terrorism and radicalism in the name of peace and stability, will be dubbed as symbols of occupation.

That is how it was in Iraq, and the same is happening in Afghanistan at present. The longer this problem remains unresolved, the situation will worsen.

But in any situation all issues have to be resolved by taking into consideration the countries of the region. Not a single neighboring country of Afghanistan can stand aside from resolving this problem. Why? The reason for this being that these are the countries which are primarily affected by the war, and the problems which arise as a result of the war. The most important, and one of the most unacceptable approaches for the establishing of peace in Afghanistan is the disregard towards the Afghan people, their religion and viewpoint.

And also, calculations show how many billions have been put into this war and even if half of that amount could have been directed towards solving the economic and social issues, then the life of the people would have been a little better off, and the Karzai Government would have got more support than it has now. Therefore, the people should be given due regard, and be given the opportunity to decide their issues themselves. On this ends the approach of Uzbekistan to the Afghan problem.