Islamabad, Sep8: Aybek Arif Usmanov, the ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are not only sincere allies but have also raised their level of comradely collaboration to that of a strategic alliance.
The Ambassador stated that only in the past three years has President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan had face-to-face meetings with his counterparts in Pakistan, including Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir. These meetings have strengthened trade, industrial, and technological projects, as well as the active military cooperation between our nations.
Aybek Arif Usmanov, the ambassador of the Uzbekistan to Pakistan, made this statement during a speech on the 33rd anniversary of the Uzbekistan’s independence, which was widely observed in Islamabad, politicians, diplomats, and military officials in attendance, the ceremony signaled a new phase in the developing partnership between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
“We are actively implementing proactive Economic Diplomacy, further cementing our multifaceted cooperation through 74 joint bilateral agreements and MOU`s, as agreed upon between our ministers of foreign relations, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and my Minister Bakhtiar Saidov, during his last meetings in Islamabad,” he stated.
Genuine partners, Uzbekistan and Pakistan, increase bilateral relations to strategic partnership During his speech commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the Republic of Uzbekistan’s independence, Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the significant amount of work that has been done recently.
He revealed that Uzbekistan’s GDP grew by 6.4% in 2024 (compared to 6.2% in 2023) and totaled $101 billion (inflation – 5.2%); foreign direct investments saw a 37% increase to $22 billion, and the country’s foreign trade turnover with 186 countries increased by 8.5% to $45 billion (export level).
Shavkat Mirziyoyev declared, “Only united – we are one nation, only together – a strong country.”He declared that the people of Uzbekistan are proud of the government’s efforts to support political stability, economic growth, and international collaboration. “The significance of enhancing regional connectivity in the domains of textiles, pharmaceutical manufacturing, renewable energy, agriculture, IT logistics, and numerous other sectors was emphasized by our upper management,” he continued.
He noted that the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project is receiving special attention from their country and Afghanistan, their friendly neighbor. “A new project office was established in Tashkent, and the Ministry of Railways in the Government of Pakistan recently convened a trilateral meeting of the project office in Islamabad. After conducting feasibility studies, finance, and construction of this game-changing initiative, three countries signed the Protocol, he said.
He anticipated that the annual sessions will yield fresh, important contributions to the ongoing reconnection of Uzbekistan and Pakistan.”I express my sincere gratitude to Asif Ali Zardari, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister; the Government of Pakistan; and the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force for their outstanding support of the connectivity strategy,” he stated.
Taking advantage of the occasion, he said, “let me also express my gratitude to the brave people of Pakistan for celebrating Army and Martyrs Day yesterday. Today, we all participated in the Pakistan Air Force Yaum-e Fazaya celebrations, which are a wonderful example of unity, resiliency, and dedication to defend the Motherland, its peaceful way of life, and long-term stability in the area.”
He said, “I’m grateful to you for gracing this occasion as Chief Guest representing the Government of Pakistan,” in reference to Jam Kamal Khan, the Federal Minister of Commerce.My sincere condolences and best wishes are extended to the following individuals: Mr. Kazim Niaz, Secretary of the EAD Division; former Secretary Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui; and Secretary Mazhar Ali Shah of the Railways Ministry, who collaborate with Uzbek colleagues around-the-clock to provide the rapidly expanding bilateral trade, investments, and transit corridors.
The ambassador stated that via our combined efforts, we have increased bilateral trade with Afghanistan to up to $500 billion through transit and preferential trade agreements. Uzbekistan has only reached this level of trade and logistics cooperation with Pakistan and Turkey. Thank God. He wished that the $1 billion Trade and Industrial Cooperation Road Map targets would be quickly attained by both nations.
“We have only been able to organize over 50 high-level meetings and over 100 ministerial summits this year. We have achieved the most amazing outcomes in Tashkent, Islamabad, Samarqand and Lahore, Bukhara and Karachi, Peshawar and Termiz as the B2B forums and people-to-people contacts strengthen region-to-region connectivity,” he said.
It is an amazing honor for me to be deployed to this wonderful country, Pakistan, for the third time and to contribute to the reconnection of our two regions and countries, stated Aybek Arif Usmanov. “According to the Agreement on military-technical cooperation, our Ministries of Defense hold Staff Talks on a regular basis. This year, the Joint Working Commission’s first meeting was held in Islamabad,” he stated.
He stated that Uzbekistan and Pakistan actively collaborate in the area of military training and conduct multilateral exercises aimed at counterterrorism. He said, “It gives me great pleasure to convey my sincere respect to each and every one of you for participating in the Uzbekistan Independence Day celebration in Islamabad. I wish the brotherly Pakistani nation all the best and success in all of your endeavors.”
