KABUL: Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan and daughter of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has called for a broader approach to Afghanistan, saying the country should not be viewed solely as a source of security threats.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Mirziyoyeva said that abandoning the people of Afghanistan, regardless of their ethnic background, would not provide a solution to the country’s longstanding challenges.
She emphasized the need to provide Afghans with hope and assurances that they can build a peaceful future.
Mirziyoyeva also discussed developments in Central Asia, saying the region had previously been associated with unresolved border disputes, water-management challenges and other sources of tension.
According to Mirziyoyeva, the political will of Central Asian leaders and initiatives promoted by Uzbekistan’s president have contributed to changes in regional relations. She said countries in the region had increasingly begun viewing one another as partners rather than threats.
She said a similar approach could be applied to the Afghan issue under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s policy.
Mirziyoyeva’s remarks come as Central Asian countries continue to engage with Afghanistan on security, trade, connectivity and humanitarian issues. Regional governments have maintained contacts with the Taliban authorities while also raising concerns over terrorism, border security and the humanitarian situation.
Her comments underline Uzbekistan’s emphasis on regional engagement and economic connectivity alongside security considerations. The approach reflects Tashkent’s stated position that Afghanistan’s stability is closely linked to the wider security and economic interests of Central Asia.