On 18th February an international conference on Central and South Asia: Holistic Policies and Means to Strengthen Cooperation in Trade and Regional Security” was held between two prestigious institutes The Center for South Asia and International Studies (CSAIS) Islamabad and Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS). In which prominent scholars of both the institutes rigorously participated. It was moderated by Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, the Director of CSAIS.
In his opening remarks, Sanjar Valiev, Deputy Director of the ISRS welcomed all the participants and spelled out strategic importance of this conference. Mr. Sanjar termed it historic and beginning of new chapter. He shared that the increased intensity of high levels of political engagements, trade and economic ties, cultural, humanitarian and educational exchanges have been further enhanced between two brotherly countries.
He appreciated leadership of both the countries to sign a Joint Declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership which proved a first giant step towards greater connectivity and immense socio-economic integration.
During his welcome speech he especially mentioned President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev initiatives to restore connectivity between Central and South Asia due to which prospects of regional connectivity and cooperation between the countries in diverse sectors of economy, investments, transportation systems, joint venture and energy has entered a new era.
He termed that bilateral relation between two countries getting momentum in which signing of a trilateral agreement (Uzbekistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan) on the implementation of the “Trans-Afghan transport” corridor played an important role.
The ISRS Deputy Head emphasized on the formation of corridor of knowledge between two institutes and thanked senior management of the CSAIS.
On his part, Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan thanked the senior management of the ISRS for its cooperation for the further strengthening of bilateral relations. Dr Khan estimated that there was a huge potential existed of future cooperation in the fields of “climate change”, “bio-diversity”, “ecological development”, “organic agriculture”, “veg-agro”, “water conservation” and last but not least hybrid seeds between Uzbekistan and Pakistan in the days to come.
Due to strategic vision of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev Uzbekistan’s positions have improved markedly in a number of international rankings, including the Index of Economic Freedom, the World Bank’s Doing Business Index, the OECD Country Risk Rankings, and the World Open Data Rankings, the regional expert Dr Khan explained.
Dr Khan shared that EU had granted Uzbekistan ‘GSP+’ trade beneficiary status, and recently the UK did so too. The country is in the process of joining the WTO. Thus future economic prospects of Uzbekistan are healthy and positive. It is estimated that Uzbekistan’s GDP will grow by 6 percent in 2022 he further added.
While going into details of social development of Uzbekistan he showcased that the country did a great job in terms of protection and provision of human rights, child labour, women empowerment and basic necessities of life to its people without any discrimination since its inception. Now it has made major progress in eliminating child labour and forced labour in the cotton industry. In this connection, the International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that systematic child labour is not being used during the cotton harvest in Uzbekistan he further added.
He concluded that the economic roadmap of Uzbekistan contained five major pillars, maintain macroeconomic stability, accelerate the market transition, strengthen social protection and citizen services, align the government’s role with the needs of a market economy; and preserve environmental sustainability. In this context, commercial diplomacy must be mantra of Uzbekistan and Pakistan in the days to come.
During the first sub-section titled “The Development of the Political Scenario in Afghanistan: Vision of Uzbekistan and Pakistan Brig. Akhtar Nawaz the Senior Director of CSAIS delivered a taught provoking speech on the issue of Afghanistan. Brig. Nawaz mentioned that bitter geopolitics and geostrategic realities of the past in which USA and CIA produced havocs due to which Afghanistan has been remained in the line of fire. He emphasized that certain changes in the foreign policies of the US and its allied forces the Mujahideens of the past declared terrorists and strategic allies turned fugitives. He shared that faulty policies of the west turned Afghanistan into debris and destruction.
Brig, Nawaz termed war against terror counterproductive and failed because of lack of knowledge and information. He appreciated Pakistan’s role as front line state in the war against terror in which more than 70000 civilian and 6000 soldiers were martyred. He clearly disowned any role of Pakistan in the failure and fall-out of the US and its allied forces from Kabul and recapturing of reigns by Taliban.
Pakistan desires Afghan own and Afghan led solution in Afghanistan in which inclusive political harmony and grand dialogue should be arranged as soon as possible, he further added. He emphasized the need to extend humanitarian assistance to interim set-up of Taliban.
Mr. Rustam Khuramov, the Head of the Department, ISRS highlighted significance of security cooperation because of increasing incidents of terrorism on the soil of Afghanistan. Khuramov, showed his concerns about the increase in trans-regional terrorist events because of various franchises of terrorists mainly ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K).
The expert showed his displeasure about the increasing production of opium poppies in Afghanistan and thus created acute danger of immense drug trafficking in the region and beyond. He concluded that there should be a joint mechanism among all regional countries to counter the looming threat of drugs trafficking and terrorism.
In 2nd Sub Section titled “Strengthening Trade and Economic Ties between Uzbekistan and Pakistan: A Way Forward and Core Stimulator in further enhancing connection of Central and South Asian Regions” Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, Director CSAIS shared that Pakistan’s swift transition from “geo-politics” to “geo-economy” was getting momentum. Revival of ancient “Silk Route” is very much possible and accessible. The concepts of “shared prosperity”, community development, holistic mean of survival and last but not least, greater regional “connectivity” is gradually inching towards reality he added.
Dr Khan termed Uzbekistan the “gateway” of Central Asia Region, which has become instrumental for greater socio-economic integration, transportation systems, Special Economic Free Zones, and hub of FDI & FPIs in the region and beyond.
Dr Khan especially mentioned meeting of both the leaders in China during which both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to comprehensively upgrade Pakistan-Uzbekistan partnership across the broad spectrum and continue taking practical steps for implementation of key projects.
On his part, Prime Minister Imran stressed the need to further enhance trade and economic cooperation, particularly through operationalizing the landmark bilateral Transit Trade Agreement and finalising the Preferential Trade Agreement. Moreover, he also echoed Pakistan’s full support to mega project of the trans-regional connectivity via Trans-Afghan railway project and exchanged views on next steps in taking it forward over the coming months the regional expert further added.
Dr Khan mentioned that PM underlined the need to enhance tourism between two countries by taking all steps for resuming direct flights, strengthen banking links and facilitate visa procedures. Furthermore, both leaders also discussed cooperation in education and culture and recognised progress on joint research and media ventures, including joint film on Baburi heritage and dubbing of Pakistani dramas in Uzbek language.
Dr Khan shared that last year witnessed a robust development in the bilateral relations of both the countries. Series of exchange of high officials including visit of prime minister Imran Khan to Tashkent further systemized and streamlined the ties and scope of mutual cooperation in diverse sector of economy, investment, joint ventures, civil aviation, financial & banking, culture, education, pharmaceutical, agro-industry, textile, garments and last but not least energy. Consequently successful holding of first Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum in Tashkent 2021 opened a new window of opportunity for private companies of both sides to invest more and more. More than 130 private companies rigorously participated and private sector of both sides inked lots of meaningful agreements amounting to $450 million.
He explained that the two sides held the sixth session of the Joint Inter-Governmental Commission (JIGC) and inaugural session of the Joint Business Council (JBC) in Tashkent 2021 which actually accelerated pace of bilateral relations. Lastly, international conference on “Central and South Asia Regional Connectivity: Challenges and Opportunities also widened the scope, utility and strategic significance of regional connectivity in which role of “Pakistan” and “Uzbekistan” considered immense.
Dr Khan concluded that both countries should jointly work to further strengthen their multifaceted ties in political, trade and economic, energy, communication, science and technology, education and cultural sectors, and fighting Covid-19.
Rapidly emerging geopolitical fault lines and geostrategic scenarios in the region, there is an urgent need to develop and maintain a regular dialogue and build constructive cooperation in the field of security and defence and to expand cooperation between law enforcement agencies of the two countries, particularly in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, he added.
The scope, operationalization and channelization of the agreement on transit trade should be used as an important tool for expanding bilateral trade. The mega project of the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project should be pursued as soon as possible to create a rail link from Central Asia to the Arabian Sea through Afghanistan and Pakistani seaports of Karachi, Gwadar and Bin Qasim, he added.
He was of the opinion that there is an urgent need to think beyond cosmetic narratives and statements. Policy makers of both sides should think out of the box to stimulate bureaucratic machinery, overcome geography hurdles, ratification of flaws of economic comparative advantage theories and last but not least easy and smooth flows of innovative financial and banking channels between the two countries.
He concluded that overhauling and operationalization and channelization of domestic savings, rise of Islamic banking, cooperation in SMEs, Micro-financing, cooperation in green energy, climate change, non-traditional export items including marble, precious stones, valuable dry fruits, mining, sports, medical instruments, infrastructural development and last but not least cooperation between chambers of commerce and stock exchanges must be mantra of both sides. Alisher Kadirov, Ambassador (ret,), Head of the Department, ISRS shared the strategic significance of historic cultural ties between two countries and termed it bench mark for future consolidation. Ambassador Kadirov mentioned that strengthening of inter-state relation is the one of the main pillar of his country foreign policy. He spoke highly about his country’s commercial diplomacy which has now further strengthened economic ties, and exports of his country.
He was of the opinion that early completion of trans-regional railway projects “Uzbekistan-Afghanistan and Pakistan” would widen scope of economic ties and regional connectivity. He suggested that both countries should extend cooperation in health sector to combat COVID-19. He concluded that mutual cooperation in ICT, mechanical engineering, agriculture, energy and education may bring desired goals of greater regional connectivity.
During the last sub-session titled “Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan on combating terrorism and drug trafficking” General Khalid Amir Jaffri (Ret.) the President of CSAIS, mesmerized the participants through his practical knowledge and diversified expertise in the field of drugs and human trafficking. General Jaffri shed light on different aspects of drugs trafficking not confined only to economy and social commitment.
General Jaffri mentioned that there is a close correlation between terrorism and drugs trafficking. He showcased historic data of South American smugglers and paddlers of Afghanistan mainly in this regard. Warlord culture, constant political instability, dormant society, lack of innovation, education, productive channels, proxy wars for geopolitical domination, internal power struggle and last but not least concept of easy money remained main reasons of record and constant production of opium poppies in various regions of Afghanistan.
Ironically, even religious clergy and Taliban despite their best efforts could not eradicate this menace which has devastating consequences, the general added.
Moreover, General Jaffri showed his concerns about record production of synthetic drugs aims to mimic the effects of existing illicit drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy. Synthetic drugs are also known as ‘new psychoactive substances’ (NSPs).
General Jaffri concluded that a joint anti-drugs strategy is the need of the hour and suggested many meaningful proposals to eradicate this non-state security threat.
Sanjar Valiev, Deputy Director of ISRS also pinpointed various policy flaws in combating increasing incidents of drugs trafficking even after the take-over of Taliban in Afghanistan. Deputy Director Valiev termed drugs trafficking as a serious security threat to all the regional countries which should be dealt jointly.
Uzbekistan has been observing all regional commitments and global pledges of drugs trafficking since its inception. He mentioned that his country has been forefront state to combat drugs trafficking and extended all financial and human cooperation in this regard, he added.
He suggested that exchange of information, holding of meetings of security agencies on regular basis is the way forward. He concluded that there must a comprehensive policy of against economic terror financing being used in terrorism and drugs trafficking. The international webinar was concluded with the closing remarks of Sanjar Valiev, Deputy Director of ISRS and General Khalid Amir Jaffri (Ret.) the President of CSAIS with lots of mutual appreciation and willingness of future cooperation. It was attended by lots of scholars, experts, researchers, students and media persons.
