Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has expressed his country’s full support for Afghanistan, calling it an integral part of the region and a key player in large-scale economic cooperation and transport connectivity.

Speaking at the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit on Friday, 5 July, Mirziyoyev welcomed the participation of a delegation from Afghanistan’s interim government, led by Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

He said that after a long pause, a delegation from Afghanistan’s "interim administration" is attending the summit.

This marks the first time in four years that the Taliban have been invited to an ECO heads-of-state summit. The summit was hosted in the city of Khankendi, Azerbaijan.

President Mirziyoyev did not comment on Russia’s recent move to formally recognise the Taliban government.