The Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan will be lobbying to unfreeze the assets of Afghanistan, Radio Pakistan reported.

Addressing a joint presser with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Islamabad, the premier said that campaign will be launched to devise ways and suggest measures for the recognition of Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan further said that a train will run from Pakistan to Uzbekistan through Afghanistan.

He said train route with Uzbekistan will help boosting linkages with Central Asian States which will also benefit the war torn Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister said we have decided to resume direct flights between the two countries that will not only improve connectivity but will help promote tourism and trade.

The premier said that the two countries have historical ties and noted that the ongoing visit of the Uzbek president will take this relationship to new heights.

PM Imran said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan were cooperating in various fields and that the trade between the two countries had increased by 50 percent in the past year while joint ventures between the business communities of the two countries enhanced by 5 percent.

The Prime Minister said both countries will jointly produce a film on Mughal Emperor Zahir-ud-Din Muhammad Babur.

He said he has shared his narrative on human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir to the Uzbek President.

The Prime Minister said the United Nations should fully implement the international law against human rights violations in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Before the presser, the representatives of both countries signed different Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and agreements during a ceremony at PM house Islamabad.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and the President of Uzbekistan witnessed the ceremony.

Earlier, Uzbek premier Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived earlier today on an official state visit to Pakistan. On his arrival at Noor Khan Airbase, he was welcomed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Accompanied by a high-level delegation including the cabinet members and businessmen, Shavkat Mirziyoyev is visiting Pakistan from March 3-4 at the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Uzbek President Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Imran Khan introduced their delegations to each other before proceeding to the official talks.

“The state visit of President Mirziyoyev would mark historic commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan,” the Foreign Office (FO) had earlier said in a statement.

During the visit, the two leaders will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations including cooperation in political, trade and economic, connectivity, education, culture, security and defence domains.

State visit begins Thursday: Uzbek President to discuss trans-Afghan railway project: FO

They will have a wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues. A number of bilateral agreements/MoUs will be signed, FO said.

The two countries will sign a preferential trade agreement to lower duties on nearly three-dozen products in the range of 20% to 100%. Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood said that after the finalization of Pakistan and Uzbekistan, Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), there will be a huge potential for trade growth in various sectors including textile.

Meanwhile, President Mirziyoyev will also have a separate meeting with President Arif Alvi.

The Trans-Afghan Railway Project, connecting Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, will be a key area of deliberations.

There will also be fruitful interaction with leading businessmen of the two countries.