Afghan, counter-terrorism tops Ansari's agenda in Uzbekistan

The future of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of international forces next year and cooperation in counter-terrorism will be the highlights of Vice President Hamid Ansari's interaction with Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov here tomorrow.
"We have common strategic interests. They relate principally to what is happening, what might happen in Afghanistan," Ansari told reporters accompanying him on his four-day visit to Uzbekistan.
He said since Uzbekistan has a border with Afghanistan, "it will, willingly, unwillingly, end up playing a critical role in what may happen there tomorrow or day after".
On the issue of terrorism, the Vice President said the two sides will try to understand how the common struggle against terrorism against all its forms and manifestations is proceeding.

"Commonality is the perception that terrorism in any form is unacceptable. It is disruptive of civilised life. Now each country has its own specific strategy because each country faces some aspect of that problem. Exchange of information, exchange of views is always helpful," he said.
He said the two countries have a joint working group on countering terrorism "and that is a work which is in progress". He refused to elaborate on the mandate of the joint group.