Afghanistan needs Uzbekistan's help to preserve peace, Afghan general says


Uzbek TV
December 9

One of the top leaders of the Afghan Northern Alliance, ethnic Uzbek Gen Abdorrashid Dostum, has said his country needs the help of Uzbekistan and other countries to preserve peace in Afghanistan. He was speaking after a ceremony to open the bridge linking the two countries on 9 December. Dostum also thanked the Uzbek government for the humanitarian aid given to Afghanistan.

The recommissioning ceremony was attended by [a Northern Alliance leader, ethnic Uzbek] Gen. Abdorrashid Dostum, who expressed his deepest gratitude to the Uzbek government for the decision, and added that a real opportunity had emerged up to restore good friendly and trade relations. An opportunity has opened up for the impoverished Afghan people to find employment, which they did not have at all under Taleban rule.

The reopening of the strategically important facility was attended by a special government commission made up of law-enforcement ministers and representatives from other departments. The delegates were briefed on the state of the facility and whether it was ready to be put into service. Speakers at the ceremony pointed out its political and trade and economic importance. The bridge will serve not just to help Afghanistan economically, but also strengthen traditional and friendly ties between the Uzbek and Afghan peoples.

The Afghan ambassador to Uzbekistan, Muhammad Hashem Sahar, said in an interview with Uzbek TV that the bridge was essential for providing assistance not only for northern Afghanistan, but for the whole of Afghanistan too. "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Uzbek president and leadership for their decision. Without doubt, this move will serve to establish stability in Afghanistan. The reopening ceremony was also attended by representatives of international humanitarian aid organizations."

In an interview with Uzbek TV, the general stressed the importance of the recommissioning of the facility and thanked the Uzbek government for their help in such an emergency.

Gen. Dostum: "Peace has come to Afghanistan and we must preserve it. We will not allow any terrorists and war here anymore. To make this happen, naturally, we need assistance from Uzbekistan and other countries."

A barge loaded with 195 t of humanitarian aid from international organizations and France started off from the port of Termez to the Afghan port of Hayraton simultaneously as the train set off.

So far, a total of 2,255 t of humanitarian cargo has been delivered to Afghanistan from Termez.