Photo: AFP
Uzbekistan expressed serious concern about the escalating situation in the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan and called on the parties to immediately cease fire. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that all disagreements should be resolved only peacefully, through political and diplomatic dialogue, based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and mutual respect of states.
This statement by official Tashkent is not sounding without reason. Because in recent days, the situation on the Afghan-Pakistani border has become much more dangerous. On February 26, the Afghan side announced the start of a special operation in the border areas in response to Pakistani strikes. According to Reuters and other international sources, these clashes have become one of the most serious military tensions between the two sides.
According to reports, Pakistan conducted strikes last week against camps located in eastern Afghanistan, which, according to its interpretation, are linked to "Tahrir-e-Taliban Pakistan" and "ISIS - Khorasan Province." Islamabad interprets this action as a response to ongoing terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Pakistani officials have claimed that the leaders of these groups are hiding in Afghanistan and planning attacks from there.
The deterioration of the situation was further demonstrated by the statement of Pakistan's Defense Minister Havaja Asif. He said that on February 27, Pakistan entered into a state of "open war" with Afghanistan. Reuters assessed these words as a clear sign that relations between the two countries have now reached a much higher level than ordinary diplomatic tensions.
Against this backdrop, Uzbekistan's measured statement became an important signal in terms of maintaining peace and stability in the region. Tashkent openly emphasizes this: the chain of military responses will not benefit anyone, but, on the contrary, will increase the threat to the security of the entire region. Especially in neighboring regions, the escalation of shootings is not indifferent to Central Asia.
In short, Uzbekistan's call is not just a diplomatic statement, but a serious warning that urges the parties to return to reason and negotiations before the situation further deteriorates. Now the most important question is one: can Afghanistan and Pakistan stop the sound of weapons and choose the path of political dialogue?
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