DUSHANBE, Tajikistan: In the bilateral segment of his visit to Dushanbe, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a range of meetings with the Tajik leadership on March 31, 2021.
The foreign minister met the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the Chairman of the Lower House of Tajik Parliament Zokirzoda Mahmadtoir Zoir, and the Defence Minister Sherali Mirzo.
Qureshi also held extensive delegation-level talks with his Tajik Counterpart Sirojddin Muhrridin.
The exchanges during these meetings were marked by exceptional cordiality and reaffirmation on both sides of the commitment to the abiding ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
In his call on President Emomali Rahmon, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Imran Khan and felicitations from Pakistani leadership on his reelection as President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The foreign minister also congratulated President Rahmon on successful hosting of the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) in Dushanbe.
Pleasure to call on President @EmomaliRahmon for an excellent meeting. Indeed our bilateral ties with Tajikistan are of great importance with the shared vision and goals of both 🇵🇰 🇹🇯 leadership lending a strong foundation to build these further. pic.twitter.com/tW7bNffpqv
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 31, 2021
With a vision to strengthening #EconomicDiplomacy, I shared 🇵🇰 seaports offer shortest route for 🇹🇯 connectivity w/ S.E Asia, M East, Africa & beyond. Reiterated our commitment to complete flagship CASA-1000, harbinger for building energy corridor between South and Central Asia. https://t.co/IrAitAiSA9
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 31, 2021
In the wide-ranging review of bilateral relations during the meeting, it was agreed to comprehensively upgrade the Pakistan-Tajikistan relationship in all dimensions.
It was decided to work together to enhance trade, investments, energy cooperation, aviation links, road and rail connectivity, and early completion of the CASA-1000 project.
In the regional context, Qureshi highlighted Pakistan’s positive contribution to the Afghan peace process. He hoped that this historic opportunity would be seized by the Afghan parties so that durable peace and stability could be established in Afghanistan and the region.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi also reiterated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s invitation to President Rahmon to visit Pakistan. The Tajik president graciously indicated his intention to undertake the visit at an early date.
Met with Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagan of the Tajik Parliament, #ZokirzodaMahmadtoirZoir with whom Pakistan’s shares strong inter-Parliamentary cooperation. We look forward to welcoming you to the 2nd Conference of ECO countries.
🇵🇰 🤝 🇹🇯 pic.twitter.com/O7lqW9d7C6— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 31, 2021
During his meeting with the Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagan (Lower House of Tajik Parliament) Zokirzoda Mahmadtoir Zoir, the two sides expressed satisfaction at the inter-parliamentary cooperation and agreed to activate the already constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups.
The foreign minister stressed that besides high-level parliamentary exchanges, the two sides should also intensify mutual collaboration between the relevant Parliamentary Committees.
In the meeting with the Defence Minister Colonel General Sherali Mirzo, the two sides expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral security and defence cooperation.
Good to meet Tajikistan’s Defence Minister Colonel General Sherali Mirzo. 🇵🇰 & 🇹🇯 share evolving bilateral defence ties that we resolved to strengthen in the weeks to come. We agreed on need to work together to defeat extremism, terrorism, drug trafficking and cross border crime. pic.twitter.com/E3rztNy88T
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 31, 2021
The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi recalled that the visits of Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC) in November 2020 to Dushanbe and of the Tajik Defence Minister to Pakistan in April 2019 had contributed to strengthen defence ties between the two Countries.
Both sides resolved that common evils of extremism, terrorism, and cross-border organized crimes necessitated closer bilateral cooperation in areas of defence and security.
During the wide-ranging delegation-level talks between Qureshi and his Tajik Counterpart Sirojddin Muhrridin, the two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral ties in diverse fields and agreed to optimally utilize the existing institutional frameworks including Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) and multiple Joint Working Groups (JWGs) to further enhance collaboration between the two countries in diverse areas including political, economic, tourism, culture and connectivity.
Qureshi highlighted that the Gwadar seaport offered the shortest route for Tajikistan’s connectivity with South Asia, Middle East, Africa, and beyond.
Emphasizing the importance of economic integration and regional connectivity as drivers of economic development and growth, the foreign minister expressed the hope that Tajikistan would become part of the regional traffic-in-transit arrangement, which would further facilitate direct land route connectivity.
The foreign minister also underlined the importance of early completion of the CASA-1000 project. He highlighted the need for closer collaboration between the trade authorities and business communities of the two Countries and identified tourism and culture as priority areas for the enhancement of people-to-people linkages.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi appreciated the close cooperation between the two countries at multilateral fora including the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and thanked Tajikistan for its support to Pakistan’s full membership of SCO.
Qureshi briefed the Tajik side on Pakistan’s efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and positive contribution to the Afghan peace process.
The two foreign ministers expressed hope that the forthcoming 5th Round of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) would help in delineating future course of action to further deepen and diversify bilateral relations.
They agreed to remain in close contact to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and further strengthen joint efforts for enhanced cooperation in all areas.
At the conclusion of delegation-level talks, the two foreign ministers jointly addressed the media.
Earlier, the Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhrridin hosted an official reception in honour of the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his delegation on March 30, 2021.
The foreign minister concluded his highly productive visit to Dushanbe by visiting the monument of Ismail Somoni, founder of the Tajik nation, paying homage and laying a floral wreath.
Privileged to end my visit to Tajikistan by paying homage to the Monument of Ismoil Somoni, Founder of the great Tajik nation.
Thank you to the Government and people of Tajikistan for a great trip.
🇵🇰 🇹🇯 pic.twitter.com/zFtVLWatPk— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 31, 2021
The relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan are based on common faith, shared history, and cultural and civilizational affinities. The bilateral relationship is marked by cordiality, trust and understanding, and mutual support.
Sharing similar views on major regional and international issues, the two Countries collaborate closely in multilateral fora. Both sides have been working assiduously to build a robust partnership covering all aspects.
