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Kabul: Pakistan and Tajikistan leaders discussed regional and international issues and called it important to establish an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
During their talks in Islamabad, the leaders of two countries, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Tajikistan’s President Imam Ali Rahman declared in a statement that “In the case of Afghanistan, the two sides agreed that a peaceful, prosperous, interconnected and stable Afghanistan is essential for regional prosperity and progress, and establishment of inclusive governance important for Afghanistan.”
The establishment of an inclusive government consisting of all political factions and ethnic groups is one of the basic demands of the international community, which the Afghan interim government considers to be interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
The two countries also vowed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, rail and road connectivity, trade, investment, agriculture and culture.
The two sides pledged to complete much-awaited Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) power project to meet energy needs.
Both states reiterated these commitments on the first day of a two-day official visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to Pakistan.
Pakistan PM hoped that the Tajik president’s visit would usher in a “new era of cooperation and development” between the two countries.
Prime Minister Sharif further added that Pakistan had been the first country that established ties with Tajikistan some 31 years back. Since then both countries had been enjoying excellent cordial and friendly ties. “Pakistan wants to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation and ties in all fields including energy, trade, joint ventures in agriculture and food, and considers Tajikistan as a gateway to the CARs [Central Asian Republics].
The two sides also acknowledged the significance of concerted global efforts for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, adding Tajikistan and Pakistan were also closely cooperating at the global level including UN, Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and other multilateral forums.
