Reports of an Afghan military helicopter being downed near the border between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have circulated widely on social networks. The incident has raised concerns and prompted a response from the Uzbek Ministry of Defense reassuring the safety of the Afghan-Uzbek border.
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan share a border and have cultural ties. Northern Afghanistan is home to an estimated 3.5mn ethnic Uzbeks, making it the second-largest Uzbek population after Uzbekistan itself. Despite historical connections, relations between the two countries have been complex.
The recent incident involving the downed helicopter has added to existing tensions. The Afghan Ministry of Defense swiftly responded, stating that the reports lack a factual basis and are untrue. They emphasized the importance of relying on official information and cautioned against spreading unverified claims.
Earlier, it was reported that a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs of Afghanistan's interim government visited Uzbekistan on March 16, upon the invitation of Sheikh Nuriddin Khaliqnazar, Chairman of the Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan.
This visit comes amidst recent diplomatic engagements between Uzbekistan and the Taliban, with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov meeting Taliban leaders in Kabul on March 12-13.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)