TASHKENT, January 7. /Dunyo IA/. The international prestige of the Uzbek language, its wide and effective use, as well as the dignified promotion of the national language in the global community, remain among the priority directions of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy and continue to be a constant focus of attention, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the Telegram channel the Press Secretary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Akhror Burkhanov, in recent days, reports have appeared in various media outlets and on social networks claiming that restrictions on the use of the Uzbek language have allegedly been introduced in Afghanistan. This information has caused concern among the public.

To clarify the situation, the responsible representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan promptly contacted their counterparts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.

Afghan officials denied these reports, noting that no restrictions on the use of the Uzbek language have been imposed in the country. They also emphasized the Afghan government’s and people’s deep respect for the Uzbek people and their language.

Official sources from the MFA of Afghanistan noted that work is currently underway across the country to standardize the signage of universities and general education schools. As part of this initiative, the signs at educational institutions will be displayed in three languages: Pashto, Dari, and English.

For the northern regions of the country, including Samangan University, an exception is provided: the signs will be displayed in Pashto, Dari, and Uzbek.

As a sign of good-neighborly relations, mutual trust, and friendship, the government of Afghanistan plans, for the first time in history, to open a “Uzbek Language and Literature” faculty this year at Jawzjan University to train master’s degree students.