Pakistan, Tajikistan agree to deepen bilateral ties

ASHGABAT: President Mamnoon Hussain Sunday met his Tajikistan counterpart Emomali Rahmon in the Turkmenistan’s capital on the sidelines of 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

Both the leaders agreed to further bolster bilateral ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan.

Speaking on the occasion, President Mamnoon Hussain said land, road, air and rail connectivity between the two countries will help enhance trade and prosperity. Both the countries have a convergent stance on regional and global issues and there are enormous opportunities to boost trade, he added.

The president said Pakistan gives high importance to the timely completion of (Central Asia-South Asia) CASA-1000 project.

President Mamnoon apprised Tajik counterpart of Pakistan holding the 10th edition of Expo Pakistan this November and suggested that Tajikistan could send a trade delegation to Expo Pakistan, to which President Emomali Rahmon agreed to.

He said Tajikistan was a gateway to Central Asian countries and emphasized that establishment of air and road links would promote bilateral trade and tourism.

He said the resumption of direct air link between two countries in May 2016 was a big step forward and stressed the need for resumption of flights by Tajikistan’s Somon Air which had been suspended within three months of its launch.

President Emomali said Tajikistan and Pakistan were celebrating 25 years of their diplomatic relations and mentioned that the bilateral accords signed in last four years had enriched the legal framework of relations.

He agreed to give a directive to his government for resumption of Somon Air flights to Pakistan.

He said though the trade volume between Pakistan and Tajikistan was the highest among all Central Asian states, he emphasized to further boost it.

President Emomali extended an invitation to President Mamnoon to visit Tajikistan in future, which was accepted by him.