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US special envoy for Afghanistan, Pakistan to visit Tajikistan.

Apart from Central Asian countries, Grossmann will make a two-day tour of countries of the Middle East, South and Western Asia, including China, India, Pakistan and Turkey

DUSAHBE, October 6 (Itar-Tass) —— Within the framework of a working tour of Central Asian countries, Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossmann will hold talks on Tuesday with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, the press service of the Tajik head of state reported.

According to the information of the US diplomatic mission in Dushanbe, discussion with the heads of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan of the strategy of “New Silk Way” worked out on the initiative of the State Department and aimed at strengthening with the help of international efforts a joint economic potential of the whole region is one of the main aims of Grossmann’s working tour.

According to sources in the US diplomatic mission, after the initiative was approved at an interdepartmental meeting of the US government, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton officially made public the strategy of “New Silk Way” during her visit to India in July of the current year. As US Assistant Secretary of State for issues of economy, energy and agriculture Robert Hormats said, the initiative to create “New Silk Way” can ensure a considerable uprising of economy for all neighbours of Afghanistan situated both to the east and to the west of it.

As a representative of the US embassy in Dushanbe said, Grossmann is making a working tour of the region on the threshold of a conference on Afghanistan due to open in Istanbul on November 2 and on the eve of a similar conference scheduled to be held in Bonn on December 5, which are to strengthen support of the strategy aimed at ensuring stable, safe and prospering Afghanistan, as well as the stable, safe and prospering region.

Apart from Central Asian countries, Grossmann will make a two-day tour of countries of the Middle East, South and Western Asia, including China, India, Pakistan and Turkey, as well as address a conference of the United States Central Command of in Doha (Qatar).

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