1. #Uzbekistan has long claimed to be talking with all political parties in #Afghanistan. Is Tashkent still doing that or just working with the #Taliban at this point? President Mirziyoyev's Special Representative Ismatulla Irgashev confirms... @uzbekmfa
2. #Uzbekistan mainly deals with #Taliban and maintains contact with former president Hamid Karzai and former CEO Abdullah Abdullah. "Those who left are out of the picture," says Irgashev referring to Ashraf Ghani and others. How about Uzbek leader Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum?
3. Irgashev denies that #Uzbekistan had an exclusive relationship with Dostum even though many in Tashkent and Afghanistan would say otherwise. For Mirziyoyev admin, special rep explains, only those staying behind matter. "We'll work with them if they make themselves relevant."
4. Why didn't Tashkent let Afghan Uzbeks and Tajiks in? Uzbekistan is firm in not accepting refugees, political or other, says 🇺🇿Special Rep Irgashev. Uzbekistan urged US/intl community to engage #Taliban, argues official, but they underestimated it. "Ultimately, we were right."
5. Irgashev says, #Uzbekistan saw Ashraf Ghani admin as very weak, barely controlling cities, and wasn't shocked at all when his govt fell. Tashkent was confident #Taliban would take Kabul, says 🇺🇿 special rep, "So we stayed ready... We want security and peaceful #Afghanistan."
6. #Taliban wants recognition, indicating they'll cooperate with the West and international community, says #Uzbekistan's special rep. "If we want to help #Afghanistan, then we must work with them together," argues Irgashev. "Tashkent is steadfast in its policy re its neighbor."
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1. #Uzbekistan President's Special Rep on #Afghanistan Ismatulla Irgashev argues it's unreasonable to expect #Taliban to deliver everything the world wants right away, such as educational/academic development. "They don't have expertise and resources."
2. Why isn't #Uzbekistan supporting ethnic Uzbek scholars who fled the #Taliban, by welcoming them as many wish? Irgashev says Tashkent is focused on those inside #Afghanistan and that it will continue aiding them in any way it can. "We are in touch with the Uzbek communities."
3. Irgashev says #Uzbekistan has been urging #Taliban to allow girls to go to school. "Because of our push, schools are opening in Balkh." He admits the Taliban must do a lot more to improve the situation. INTW w/ 🇺🇿President's Special Rep on Afghanistan: