In a statement delivered at the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) in Dushanbe, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, in particular, noted on March 30 that Tajikistan and Afghanistan have long-term historical ties in various fields.
“Therefore, Tajikistan cannot remain indifferent in solving the problems of this country,” President Rahmon said, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
According to him, Tajikistan supports the strategy to restore the peaceful life in the neighboring country.
“We believe that today’s event will give boost to the solution of Afghanistan problems,” Tajik leader said.
Emomali Rahmon also noted that the last four decades of conflicts in Afghanistan have shown that there is no military solution to the issue of Afghanistan except for diplomatic and political efforts.
Meanwhile, Afghan President Ghani, who addressed the conference, said Afghanistan-Tajikistan relations are based on mutual respect and trust.
Afghan president noted that the peace in Afghanistan will bring peace and stability in the region and the world, adding that the ongoing violence in the country is against the will of the people, according to TOLONews.
Recall, foreign ministers of 15 member nations are participating in the HoA-IP meeting in Dushanbe. Besides, representatives of 16 donor countries and heads of 16 regional and international organizations are participating in the meeting through video conferencing.
The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process is an initiative of Afghanistan and Turkey, which was officially launched at a conference hosted by Turkey in Istanbul on November 2, 2011. Since then, Afghanistan supported by fourteen Participating Countries of the Heart of Asia Region and 16 Supporting Countries beyond the region as well as 12 Regional and International Organizations is leading and coordinating this Process. It is a platform for promoting regional security, economic and political cooperation centered on Afghanistan through dialogue and a set of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).
The Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process aims at promoting and strengthening peace, security, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and in the region through confidence building and enhancing regional cooperation among 15 countries of the Heart of Asia Region. The HoA-IP has become one of the most interactive voluntary state-groupings in the HoA Region.
It brings Afghanistan's immediate and extended neighbors as well as international supporters together through the following focus areas: 1) political consultations; 2) implementation of the CBMs; and 3) cooperation with regional organizations.
