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IEA barred from next ECO meeting in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan says the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) will not participate in the next meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization or “ECO” which will be held in Tashkent.
Sherzod Asadov, the press secretary to the president of Uzbekistan, said on Tuesday that in order for Afghanistan to be represented at the meeting, all ECO member countries and the international community would first have to recognize the IEA as the legitimate government.
Sherzod Asadov emphasized that Afghanistan is an ECO member country but due to political changes in August 2021, it may not “temporarily participate” in ECO meetings and activities.
It has been over two years since the IEA regained control of Afghanistan but no country has yet officially recognized the government.
The international community says that until the Islamic Emirate provides the basic rights of the people of Afghanistan, including the rights of girls and women, their government will not be recognized.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, however, says that any meeting relating to Afghanistan will not bear results unless the IEA has an active role in these gatherings.
The spokesperson of the president of Uzbekistan believes that the establishment of Afghanistan as a peaceful and prosperous country is an important condition for achieving stable economic development in the ECO environment.
A number of experts consider the presence of Afghan representatives in large meetings, especially in the region, to be important.
The presidents of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, the prime minister of Kazakhstan, the head of the interim government of Pakistan and the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will participate in this round of the ECO meeting.
Pakistani local media reports that Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to attend the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit
The Prime Minister was received by the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdullah Nagmatovich Aripov at Tashkent International Airport.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and Caretaker Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz are also accompanying the Prime Minister.
Uzbek officials have also said that several bilateral meetings will be held within the framework of this round of ECO meeting.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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