01-31 March 2018
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Tashkent hosted a high-level International Conference on Afghanistan, titled “Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional Connectivity”, on 26-27 March 2018. The conference was organized at the initiative of the Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who along with the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, delivered the keynote address at the conference. Representatives from over 25 countries took part in the conference, including the United States, the European Union, Pakistan, Iran, China, Russia, and Central Asian Republics (CARs). Indian delegation was led by Minister of State for External Affairs Shri M. J. Akbar. The conference reiterated that the peace process should be ‘Afghan-led and Afghan-owned’. [
A consultative meeting of the Central Asian heads took place in Astana on 15 March. This was first of a kind initiative in more than a decade. President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan played the role of a catalyst in organizing this meeting, which was hosted by President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. Presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan also attended the high-level meeting. The fifth CAR, Turkmenistan, was represented by the Speaker of the Parliament instead of the President. It was decided at this meeting that such consultations will be held regularly to discuss regional issues. [
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan recently paid a two day state visit to Dushanbe. This is his first tour of Tajikistan since coming to power, whichcompletes the cycle of visiting all the CARs at least once. Such visit between the two neighboring countries came after nearly 18 years. During the visit, Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomaly Rahmon held bilateral negotiations; and signed a Joint Statement and as many as 27 agreements. This included an agreement on demarcation of certain sections of the Uzbek-Tajik border and a deal to establish 30-day visa-free regime. The two Presidents also launched the Galaba-Amuzang-Khoshadi interstate railway. Nine crossing-points were opened at the Uzbek-Tajik border on 01 March 2018. In his statement Mirziyoyev not only backtracked from years of opposition to the construction of Rogun dam, but stated that his government would consider providing support for the project’s completion. This visit reflects improving relations between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. [
Indo-Kyrgyz Joint Military Exercise “Khanjar-2018” was inaugurated on 16 March at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare CIJW School in Vairengte, Mizoram. The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct of counter terrorist operations, and to enrich and enhance the operational capability of both the countries jointly. This exercise is the fifth edition of the Khanjar series, which is annual joint military exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan. [
The first meeting of foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4) and CARs was held in Budapest on 28 February 2018. The meeting was attended by the high-level delegations of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, who discussed the state and prospects of cooperation in various fields both in bilateral and interregional format. It was decided that meetings shall be held annually under this new cooperation format. [
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani paid a state visit to Turkmenistan on 27 March 2018. During visit he held talks with the Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. They discussed regional and global issues, and issues relating to cooperation in fields of fuel and energy, transport and communication, and interaction in the Caspian Sea. As a result, a joint statement and several agreements were signed, including the Program of Cooperation in the sphere of culture, art, science and education for 2018-2020 and a Memorandums of Understanding on cooperation in trade, industry, agriculture, air transportation, etc. [
