ALMATY: The president of Uzbekistan, which shares a long border with Afghanistan, has urged the West to stop using military force in its fight against the Taliban and focus more on rebuilding the country's shattered economy.

Uzbekistan's support for US-led military efforts in Afghanistan is important because the country, like the rest of Central Asia, lies on a supply route for NATO forces fighting a resurgent Taliban.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov said military efforts had become largely useless.