On the first day of the Afghanistan and Central Asian States Conference on Thursday, representatives of over 30 countries along with officials from major security and cultural organizations gathered in Kabul to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the region.
Regional cooperation, join investment of countries in business and development sectors, security and the role of Central Asian countries in the reconstruction process of Afghanistan were said to be among the topics discussed.
Participants of the conference agreed that a cooperative and collaborative approach to fighting extremism, maintaining peace and relations among the countries was essential.
"Truly, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries demonstrate great shared values that we can use for the betterment and sustainable justice of our people and destruction of security threats," Afghan National Security Advisor Dr. Rangeen Dadfar Spanta said.
From discussion of shared culture to talks on how Central Asian countries can help bring peace to Afghanistan, along with many promises, were all prominent features of the conference.
"The government of Kazakhstan supports the Afghan peace process and will continue its support to its neighboring brother country of Afghanistan," pronounced the Kazakh Ambassador Agybay Smsgulov.
As negotiations over the Kabul-Washington security pact weigh on, it was clear some dignitaries at the event came with their own opinions on the issue, with some going out of their way to express those views.
"The Republic of Kyrgyzstan will support the international strategy for the reconstruction of Afghanistan after the war," Kyrgyz Ambassador Abdurazakov Avazbek Ishenbaevich said.
Ways to improve the economies of the region, the April elections and the achievements of the Afghan Security Forces this year were also among the topics discussed at the conference.
"The IEC is committed to holding elections on time, there are no chance of changing the date," Deputy Director of the IEC Abdul Rahman Hotaki said.
"Today, in some areas, we are 90 percent independent, and in some areas 85 percent," Chief of Army Staff Sher Muhammad Karimi said about the progress of the Afghan forces. "we are moving towards being self-sufficient."
Discussions on the second day of the conference are expected to touch on counter narcotics, historical and cultural preservation and public opinion around the region.
Please click below for the complete speech of Dr. Spanta and Mr. Muradian:
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