US, Afghan, Pak, Uzbekistan form quad group
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 17
The US has announced the formation of a Quad comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and itself to establish a new diplomatic platform focused on enhancing regional connectivity.
While the older and more-well known Quad in the oceans is called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and comprises the US, India, Japan and Australia, the ostensible purpose of the Central Asian Quad is to focus on long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan so as to promote regional connectivity.
“Recognising the historic opportunity to open flourishing interregional trade routes, the parties intend to cooperate to expand trade, build transit links and strengthen business-to-business ties. The parties agreed to meet in the coming months to determine the modalities of this cooperation with mutual consensus,” said a US State Department statement.
