ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday described Tajikistan as a bridge to Central Asia and said his own country served as a gateway to sea-linked trade routes, according to an official statement, during a meeting with Tajik Defense Minister Col. General Sabirzoda Emomali Abdulrahim.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992, following Tajikistan’s independence from the Soviet Union. Since then, they have worked to deepen defense cooperation, including counterterrorism coordination and military-to-military training.
Both countries have also pursued ambitious plans to connect Pakistan and Tajikistan through road and rail corridors via Afghanistan. However, political and security challenges, as well as difficult land connectivity through Afghanistan, have slowed down the implementation.
“The President welcomed the delegation and said that Pakistan greatly values its multifaceted relationship with Tajikistan, embedded in common history, culture and linguistic affinity,” said the statement released by Zardari’s office after the meeting.
“Terming Tajikistan as a bridge to the heart of Central Asia, the President said that Pakistan is equally Tajikistan’s gateway to international waters,” it added. “The two states can play a significant role in promoting peace and stability in the region, the President said.”
Zardari said Pakistan highly valued its multifaceted relationship with Tajikistan, rooted in shared history, culture and linguistic ties.
He stressed the need to further enhance political, cultural and people-to-people exchanges to deepen bilateral engagement.
The president highlighted the potential for expanding trade and investment, particularly in the energy sector, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the timely completion of the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project designed to export surplus hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan.
Zardari also expressed satisfaction over growing bilateral defense cooperation, citing frequent high-level exchanges and joint military exercises as indicators of strong security ties.
The Tajik defense minister conveyed his country’s interest in strengthening cooperation with Pakistan across multiple sectors, the statement added.
