India, Uzbekistan warn against outside interference in Afghanistan

TASHKENT: Warning against any "outside interference" in Afghanistan's internal affairs, India and Uzbekistan today said it could prove to be counter-productive and stressed on the need to support an Afghan-led political process.


The remarks came against the the backdrop of withdrawal of US-led forces from the war-torn country by the end of 2014.

The discussion between Vice President Hamid Ansari and Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov here also revolved around cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism and improving bilateral relations.

Briefing reporters about the nearly two-hour-long meeting between the two leaders, Secretary (West) in the MEA Sudhir Vyas told accompanying reporters that President Karimov welcomed Indian investments in the resource-rich country with "open arms".

He said Uzbekistan was willing to export its natural resources, including oil and gas to India. Besides, tourism and pharmaceuticals are other sectors where the two countries can expand their bilateral trade.

India is working on a power transmission line which would send Uzbeki power to Kabul and Vyas said it was another example of the two countries working on developing infrastructure.

In reply to a question, he said the two sides also discussed cooperation in counter-terrorism for which a joint working group has already been established.

Several radical elements of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, now called Islamic Movement of Turkmenistan and Hizb-ut Tahrir have found shelter in the region.

Referring to Afghanistan, Vyas said there was "considerable discussion" on the subject and the two leaders agreed that peace, stability and development was in the interest of all. He said the two sides have clarity that any interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan would be "counter-productive" and there was a need to allow an Afghan-led political process take shape in the next elections.

"We will work with whichever government people of Afghanistan elect in elections," he said.

The US-led forces are leaving Afghanistan in 2014 amid concerns of stability and security of the country.

India and Uzbekistan today signed an MoU on the upgradation of the Jawaharlal Nehru India-Uzbekistan Centre for Information Technology in Tashkent .

The IT Centre in Tashkent was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Uzbekistan in 2006. Decision to upgrade this centre was taken during the visit of President Karimov to India in May, 2011.

The follow up action was decided during the visit of Minister of State for IT Sachin Pilot.

A team of C-DAC earlier visited Uzbekistan in 2012 to examine the possibilities of upgrading of the centre.

The upgrading is expected to be completed during the financial year 2013-14.