Afghanistan and Tajikistan have signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in different areas during President Ghani’s visit to the northern neighboring country, the presidential palace said in a statement issued yesterday, March 29.
The MoUs have been signed in the presence of President Ghani and President Emomali Rahmon in a bid to facilitate bilateral cooperation between the two nations in political, security, commercial, transit, transportation, energy, and cultural areas.
The statement further noted that the two presidents also signed the joint-statement of Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
In his visit to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, President Ghani met Emomali Rahmon during which the two presidents discussed how to expand the bilateral ties and cooperation in different fields.
He has also met with Tajikistan Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker.
Ghani arrived in Dushanbe earlier yesterday, Monday, March 29, on a two-day visit to the neighboring country which is co-chairing the ongoing 9th meeting of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process foreign ministers.
Strengthening regional consensus in support of the Afghan peace process and bolstering political, economic, and security cooperation in the region are the key topics that will be discussed during the meeting, according to Mr. Hewad.
The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) was founded on November 2nd, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey. This platform was established to address the shared challenges and interests of Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners.
The Heart of Asia is comprised of 15 participating countries, 17 supporting countries, and 12 supporting regional and international organizations. Turkey that hosts the upcoming Istanbul conference on the Afghan peace process is a participating member.
The meeting comes ahead of the Istanbul conference on the Afghan peace process set to be held in April during which the Afghan warring sides are supposed to directly discuss a US proposal that includes establishing an interim administration and also a ceasefire.
The proposal, however, has been followed by serious criticisms of the Afghan government and its leading officials.
In the latest counter-attempts to the proposal, President Ghani has prepared a counter-offer to the US in which he will propose holding an early presidential election in the upcoming Istanbul conference if the Taliban agree to a ceasefire, Reuters reported on March 23.
The 8th meeting between foreign ministers of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process was held in December 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey.
