Tashkent to resume flights with Kabul, Mazar

KABUL (Pajhwok): Planning to boost bilateral trade with Afghanistan to $2 billion by 2023, Uzbekistan eyes resuming direct flights to the war-torn country in 2021.

Direct flights would be launched in January between Tashkent and Kabul and Tashkent and Mazar-i-Sharif, a media report said on Monday.

A decree from the Uzbek president’s office said Tashkent wanted to accelerate railway and power transmission projects with Afghanistan.

Plans were underway to enhance the volume of transit goods by simplifying customs procedures on the common borders, the decree added.

Uzbekistan also intends to cut the prices of key exports such as cement, iron, liquefied gas, flour, wheat, eggs and vegetable oil to Afghanistan.

PAN Monitor/mud