Tashkent, Nov 08: India today promised greater cooperation with the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan, especially in construction of a road through Afghanistan that would eventually link up with Iran's Gulf Coast. Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, currently on a visit to the Central Asian Republic, said during talks with Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov he had discussed "taking the collaboration between our countries to a much higher level."

Uzbekistan has entered into joint road project with Kabul and Tehran. Under this project, it is building a road through Afghanistan that would link up with Iran's Gulf Coast.

India's participation in the project would help promote ties with Uzbekistan, Sinha added. India also intends to increase orders for cargo aircraft from a Tashkent aircraft plant Uzbekistan inherited from the Soviet era, Sinha said.

Bureau Report