Promise of connectivity in Central and South Asia should become counterbalance to threat of further deterioration in Afghanistan: UN chief

countries of Central and South Asia can only fully benefit from potential opportunities if region at large is at peace, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, underlining that promise of connectivity itself should become a “counterbalance” to threat of furr deterioration in war-torn Afghanistan.

“Connectivity is central to tre, ecomic growth and sustainable development. But connectivity is t just about ecomics. It drives regional cooperation and encours friendly relations among neighbours, near and far,” Guterres said in a video mess to high-level International Conference on Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent on Friday.

“Enhanced connectivity that is environmentally sustainable and based on rule of law can contribute to building long-term peace, stability and prosperity in Central and South Asia. This is crucial w more than ever,” he said.

He said countries of Central and South Asia can only fully benefit from potential opportunities if region at large is at peace.

“This places an even higher premium on importance of active and collective engment in support of Afghanistan’s peace and security.” Guterres called on nations to work toger to “ensure that potential dividends of peace are well eugh understood by all so that promise of connectivity itself becomes a counterbalance to threat of furr deterioration in Afghanistan.” He stressed that conference is an important step in that direction and UN stands rey to support “your efforts to strengn interconnectedness in region for benefit of all.” His comments came as clashes between Afghan government forces and Taliban intensified since US troops began to withdraw from country, ending nearly two-dece of its military presence in war-ravd country.

Taliban, a fundamentalist Islamist militia, was evicted from power by US-led forces in 2001 after 9/11 terror attacks in US.

Taliban recently claimed ir fighters h retaken 85 per cent of territory in Afghanistan - a figure disputed by government in Kabul.