DefinePK

Abstract

Since Uzbekistan’s initiative of “Central and South Asia”, Pak-Uzbek relations are being discussed in many aspects. Initially, the US presence in Afghanistan along with the US-backed Afghan regime was assumed as the biggest hurdle in gaining financial incentives for Pakistan from Uzbekistan. However, recapturing of Kabul by Afghan Taliban once again boosted Pak-Uzbek relations. This study analyzes the content of newspaper articles in a way that “how Pakistan had been socio-economically and politically engaged with Uzbekistan via Afghanistan from August 15, 2021 to April 02, 2022” and “whether Pakistan railway would be connected to Uzbek railway under CPEC”. As both countries have also signed various agreements during the Uzbek president’s visit to Islamabad on March 22, 2022, this study also examines the newspaper articles regarding tracing the reasons for once again frozen bilateralism since April 2022.