Uzbekistan has offered to host peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, a move that could make Tashkent a player in settling the decades-long conflict in the neighbouring country.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev told a conference in Tashkent attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that they stand ready to create all necessary conditions to arrange direct talks between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban.
European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and a number of foreign ministers including those of Russia and Turkey, also attended the conference, but there were no Taliban representatives.
Last month, Mr Ghani offered recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate political group as part of a proposed political process.
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