ISLAMABAD, NOV 01 (DNA) – Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday, in a joint statement with his Uzbek counterpart, stated that Pakistan and Uzbekistan share a “common view” for a political settlement in Afghanistan and added that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict.

In a joint press conference in Islamabad, FM Qureshi and Abdulaziz Kamilov “expressed the resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation to promote peace and stability in the region”.

FM Qureshi said: “Pakistan is ready to promote connectivity in the region for the benefit of our people”.

He added that there were many opportunities for the two countries to increase “bilateral cooperation” in trade, tourism and security.

Uzbekistan’s FM reiterated that the two countries share a “common approach” for the peace process in Afghanistan as well as in combating terrorism.

He acknowledged the “vital role” Pakistan has played in the fight against terrorism and stability in the region, the report stated.

Kamilov said that the two had discussed strengthening “bilateral cooperation in the fields of transport, road communication, trade, economy and security”.

The Uzbek FM invited his Pakistani counterpart to visit Uzbekistan and thanked him for the hospitality his delegation had received in Islamabad. Kamilov will also call on Prime Minister Imran Khan.