The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan issued a statement on the situation in Uzbekistan. “Uzbekistan is closely watching the development of the military-political situation in Afghanistan, including in the bordering northern provinces,” the Foreign Ministry said. - The increase in violence in the neighboring country is of utmost concern. The escalation of tensions amid the new wave of the coronavirus pandemic is making life more difficult for the Afghan people.”
“We urge all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from the use of force and to prevent civilian casualties,” the statement said.
According to the data cited by the Foreign Ministry, on June 23, 53 servicemen of the Afghan border troops and local militiamen with weapons crossed into the territory of Uzbekistan in the area of Shortepa district. After carrying out the necessary procedures of inquiry and investigative actions, these Afghan citizens returned to their homeland.
“Any attempts to illegally cross into the Uzbek territory will be harshly suppressed, and the most stringent measures will be taken against violators of the state border,” the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said.
"The Uzbek authorities firmly declare its commitment to maintaining traditionally friendly and good-neighborly relations with Afghanistan, maintaining neutrality and non-interference in the internal affairs of the neighboring country," the statement says.
The Foreign Ministry assured that the government of Uzbekistan will continue to provide "all-round economic and humanitarian support to the brotherly Afghan people," including through the implementation of major energy, transport and communication projects in the country, "the implementation of which will contribute to the establishment of a lasting peace in Afghanistan."
