TASHKENT, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Military chiefs of Central and South Asian countries as well the United States will gather here Thursday to discuss security issues and the situation in Afghanistan, the Uzbek Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"Chiefs of staff of the armed forces of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, the first deputy chief of the general staff of the Kyrgyzstan, as well as the commander of U.S. Central Command will attend the event," the ministry said in a statement.

The participants will discuss regional security issues, stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and cybercrime.

Military officials will also hold bilateral meetings, the statement said.