The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan published a joint statement of five Central Asian states and the USA (C5 + 1) following the meeting on Afghanistan, held as part of an international conference in Tashkent.

In the document, the C5 + 1 countries reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation through the regional diplomatic platform and searching for opportunities to strengthen the ties between the Central Asian and South Asian regions through trade, transport, and energy cooperation.

The parties also recognized that increased connectivity of Central Asian countries contributes to the common goal of prosperity and security in the region.

“The C5+1 endeavors to build upon the collaborative progress it has made on connectivity, including to create stable and prosperous conditions favorable to the Afghan peace process, reaffirming to all parties: the urgency of substantive negotiations on a political settlement; that the only path to a just and durable peace is through a negotiated political settlement that results in an inclusive political system and respects the fundamental rights of all Afghans; that there is no support for the imposition by force of a new government in Afghanistan; and that terrorists and third party forces must never be allowed to use Afghan territory to threaten or attack the C5+1 countries or any other country,” the text of the document says.