Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 23 February, the Second Forum of Uzbekistan and India analytical centers took place.

The event was attended by leading experts from the Indian Council of World Affairs, the National Institute of Advanced Studies, the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, India – Central Asia Foundation, the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISMI) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, International Institute for Central Asian Studies, Information and Analytical Center for International Relations, and representatives of other organizations.

The main issues of the virtual meeting were the development of cooperation through the prospect of strengthening and enhancing connectivity of Central and South Asia, involving Afghanistan in regional economic cooperation, as well as the restoration of the two countries after the pandemic.

Noting the dynamic development of the strategic partnership, the ISMI department head Alisher Kadirov shared his opinion about the activities of countries on the platforms of regional and international organizations, in particular the SCO. According to him, this organization has become one of the most important platforms for strengthening Uzbekistan – Indian relations.

The ISMI expert emphasized that the SCO ensures India’s reliable ties with Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries. The specific and targeted nature of interaction within the SCO allows the countries to build up mutually beneficial cooperation, both in multilateral and bilateral formats.

Uzbekistan and India share a common position on common threats and challenges to security, political settlement in Afghanistan. Both sides support the efforts of all partner countries aimed at the economic reconstruction of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. In this regard, cooperation in the SCO would contribute to the development and adoption of an effective plan of practical measures to promote the socio-economic reconstruction of Afghanistan within the framework of the SCO – Afghanistan Contact Group, initiated by the President of Uzbekistan at the summit of the heads of state of the organization in November 2020.