ISLAMABAD, December 11. /Dunyo IA/. Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, held a meeting with Minister of Defence of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

During the meeting, the sides reviewed prospects for the continued advancement of political, military, and military-technical cooperation, as well as the coordination of efforts aimed at promoting stability and economic integration across the region.

Minister underscored that Pakistan attaches great importance to fostering its fraternal relations with Uzbekistan - ties rooted in a shared history, spiritual values, culture, and longstanding traditions. He noted that these enduring commonalities bring the peoples of the two countries closer together and provide a solid foundation for the further expansion of bilateral cooperation.

The discussion also highlighted the significant role played by official Tashkent in bolstering regional security, supporting efforts toward a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan, and advancing joint infrastructure initiatives.

“Stability in Afghanistan is of immense importance for international security,” the Minister noted. He emphasized that the implementation of the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway project, which has the potential to give powerful momentum to joint infrastructure development—particularly in regional logistics and trade—would open up vast new opportunities.

Minister of Defence of Pakistan warmly recalled his previous visits to Uzbekistan, including to Samarkand, and expressed his interest in visiting Bukhara and Khiva in the future.

The meeting also reviewed the current state and future prospects of Uzbek–Pakistani relations. It was noted that bilateral cooperation continues to advance dynamically, including in the military sphere. In particular, throughout 2025, the defence ministries of the two countries carried out a wide range of joint activities.

The sides further highlighted the growing cultural and humanitarian exchanges, as well as expanding cooperation in education and tourism.

The Pakistani representative welcomed the launch of direct flights between the two countries, describing it as an important step toward strengthening people-to-people connectivity.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties agreed to arrange reciprocal visits by delegations at various levels to conduct more detailed discussions on issues of mutual cooperation.