On May 6 of this year, a meeting was held between the ISRS Director Eldor Aripov and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland – Deputy Director of the Eastern Department Marek Tsalka, Special Representative for Afghanistan Witold Sobkow, and Head of the Department for Cooperation with Central Asia Martina Lesisa.

During the talks, the parties discussed in detail the current situation in Afghanistan and issues of ensuring regional security.

Eldor Aripov outlined in detail Uzbekistan’s fundamental position on assistance in ensuring stability and sustainable development in Afghanistan.

As the ISRS Director noted, in modern conditions Afghanistan should be viewed not as a source of threats, but through the prism of emerging strategic opportunities. According to him, the country is a potential bridge connecting Central and South Asia. In this regard, the importance of involving Afghanistan in regional ties, implementing socially significant economic and infrastructure projects on its territory was emphasized.

The Polish side highly appreciated Tashkent's consistent policy aimed at the socio-economic recovery of Afghanistan. "Uzbekistan traditionally plays a key role in the Afghan direction and has become a reliable partner of the international community in this matter," Witold Sobkov emphasized.

The Polish diplomat also focused on Uzbekistan's efforts to deepen interregional connectivity, recalling the International Conference «Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities» held in Tashkent in July 2021 at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In addition, during the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for developing cooperation between analytical centers of Uzbekistan and Poland. The participants in the talks agreed that strengthening the expert dialogue will contribute to deepening mutual understanding between the two countries and developing coordinated approaches to key issues on the bilateral agenda.