In all his calls, Sir William emphasised the UK’s commitment to Afghanistan’s long term stability and the important role that Uzbekistan has to play in the region.

He urged Uzbekistan to make its voice heard, including through participation in the forthcoming international conferences in Istanbul and Bonn.

Sir William said he had been looking forward to visiting Tashkent.

“This is my first time in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is famous for its history and rich culture. Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent are famous cities in Europe. It’s a great pleasure to be here. Those evocative names of ancient cities make us recall the adventures of the Marco Polo, invasions of Genghis khan and the Empire of Tamerlane. Sadly we have a very short visit and I won’t see the famous ancient cities of Uzbekistan. But I hope to return and explore the rich heritage of Uzbekistan. ”