U.S. asks Uzbekistan to join fight against Islamic State
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 28 August 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. asks Uzbekistan to join fight against Islamic State, 28 August 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55ee973e25.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 28, 2015
The United States has asked Uzbekistan to join the multinational coalition fighting the Islamic State group.
Daniel Rosenblum, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Central Asia, told reporters August 27 during a visit to Tashkent that he extended the invitation and asked Uzbekistan to contribute in any way it sees fit.
The war against IS involves not only a military component, Rosenblum said, but intelligence gathering and efforts to stop the flow of financing to IS.
A mainly Muslim nation with a population of 31 million, Uzbekistan has been a strategic NATO partner assisting in the war on the Taliban movement in neighboring Afghanistan.
Rosenblum noted "closer ties and better sharing information between our security establishments." And he lauded Uzbekistan for progress in eliminating child labor in cotton fields – a practice for which Uzbekistan had been strongly criticized.
He said that more needs to be done, however, to eliminate involuntary adult labor in cotton production, which along with gold production is an important part of Uzbekistan's economy.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Trend News Agency
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
