DUSHANBE: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon on Thursday reviewed bilateral ties in different areas, including political, trade, economy, energy, defence, security, and regional connectivity.
During their bilateral meeting, both sides agreed to actively explore new areas of cooperation, with an emphasis on promoting investment opportunities, strengthening educational ties, encouraging cultural exchanges, advancing collaboration in information technology, and deepening people-to-people connections.
Upon arrival at Qasr-e-Millat, the President welcomed the Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tajikistan to attend the International High-Level Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation (ICGP) being held on 29-31 May 2025.
He was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and other senior officials.
Upon his arrival in Dushanbe, he was warmly received by Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister and the President of Tajikistan engaged in comprehensive discussions covering a wide range of bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest.
The leaders fondly recalled the signing of the historic Strategic Partnership Agreement during the Prime Minister’s visit to Dushanbe in July 2024, which laid a strong foundation for deepening bilateral ties and advancing common goals.
Reaffirming the close and brotherly relationship between the two nations—rooted in shared history, culture, and geography—they expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation and committed to further strengthening their strategic partnership for the mutual benefit of both countries and their peoples.
Support for CASA-1000 reiterated
On CASA-1000, they reaffirmed their commitment to positioning it as a pivotal project for regional integration.
Welcoming the holding of the CASA-1000 Inter-Governmental Council in Dushanbe on 15 May 2025, the Prime Minister assured the shared commitment to its early operationalization.
On the subject of economic cooperation, the two leaders acknowledged the significant untapped potential in bilateral trade and emphasized the need to actively pursue new avenues of collaboration.
This commitment aligns with the outcomes of the 7th Session of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, held in Islamabad in December 2024.
They also agreed to make full use of existing institutional mechanisms, including the twelve Joint Working Groups (JWGs), to further strengthen cooperation—particularly in the oil gas, and energy sectors.
The leaders welcomed the growing collaboration in defence and security and reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing it to address shared security challenges.
They stressed the importance of deepening cooperation in counter-terrorism, as well as in combating cross-border organized crime, human trafficking, and drug smuggling.
The leaders also exchanged perspectives on regional and global geopolitical developments. They stressed the importance of working together to promote peace, stability, and economic development in the region.
Peaceful resolution of Tajik-Kyrgyz border dispute
Regarding the peaceful resolution of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border dispute, the Prime Minister congratulated the President on this significant achievement and commended his wisdom and statesmanship in resolving the issue through dialogue and diplomacy.
He expressed hope that this historic milestone would pave the way for a new era of regional cooperation and development.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the ongoing collaboration at multilateral platforms, including the United Nations (UN), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
They reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together on global and regional issues of shared interest.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding and friendly relations with Tajikistan, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of sustained, structured, and multifaceted engagement for mutual benefit.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to enhancing regional connectivity, highlighting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a key driver in strengthening Pakistan’s links with Central Asia.
Tensions with India
The Prime Minister also briefed the President on the latest situation in the South Asian region. The Prime Minister said that the South Asia region could not afford India’s irresponsible and unlawful actions since 7 May 2025, which amounted to acts of war and violation of the UN Charter and international law.
The Prime Minister called upon the international community to hold India accountable, reiterating that Pakistan desires peace, but will defend its sovereignty with full resolve if challenged.
He also underscored that the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions, remains fundamental to securing lasting peace in the region.
President Rahmon voices support for Pakistan
In response, President Emomali Rahmon expressed deep concern over the developments in early May, emphasising that as a close and steadfast friend of Pakistan, he remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.
He praised the Prime Minister’s exceptional leadership, noting its crucial role in restoring regional peace and security.
President Rahmon reaffirmed Tajikistan’s strong desire to further deepen bilateral cooperation across all sectors, describing Pakistan as a reliable and trusted partner.
Highlighting the value of regular high-level interactions, he stressed the importance of enhanced collaboration in key areas such as science and technology, agriculture, industry, hydropower generation, and tourism.
The Prime Minister appreciated Tajikistan’s leadership role in Water Diplomacy and congratulated the President of Tajikistan for the successful organization of international events including the International High-Level Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation (ICGP) on 29-31 May 2025, in Dushanbe.
The Prime Minister extended a cordial invitation to President Rahmon for an official visit to Islamabad to continue strategic dialogue and deepen the multifaceted partnership.
