ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood Co-chaired the5th Round of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) between Pakistan andTajikistan with the First Deputy Foreign Minister Khusrav Noziri on Tuesdayin virtual mode.
The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations inpolitical, security, economic and trade, science and technology, education,culture and connectivity as well as cooperation at international andregional fora.
Recognizing the significance of Tajikistan as a gateway to Central Asia,the Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood expressed satisfaction at the growingpace of mutual cooperation over the past three decades.
The foreign secretary emphasized the importance of augmentingmulti-dimensional bilateral cooperation within the framework of a strategicpartnership for mutual peace, progress, and prosperity.
Expressing deep concern on the rising challenge of COVID-19 amid thirdwave, the foreign secretary stressed international cooperation andsolidarity to effectively combat challenges posed by the pandemic and toadopt joint measures.
The foreign secretary underscored the importance of holding regularpolitical dialogue as well as high-level and parliamentary interactions todeepen mutual cooperation and ensure regular follow-up.
Both sides agreed to fast-track the finalization of various bilateralagreements and MoUs in order to further institutionalize cooperation indiverse fields.
Sohail Mahmood emphasized the need to increase the volume of bilateraltrade and investments through trade diversification, increasingbusiness-to-business contacts, resuming air links, and enhancingcooperation in the energy sector.
It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the Pakistan-TajikistanInter-Governmental Commission and Joint Working Group on Education &Science and Technology at an early date.
The foreign secretary highlighted the government’s socio-economic agendaand shift in focus from geo-politics to geo-economics. He said that thegovernment aimed at leveraging Pakistan’s immense potential of regionalconnectivity through the development of China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) and providing a shortest possible route from Central Asia to theArabian Sea through Pakistani seaports of Gwadar, Bin Qasim, and Karachi.
The two sides also discussed ways to develop greater collaboration amongstudents, artists, academicians, and leading Universities of the twoCountries to boost educational and cultural linkages by building on commonheritage.
While exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,the foreign secretary underscored the importance of peace and stability inAfghanistan for the progress and prosperity of the region and expressedsupport for a negotiated, political solution through an Afghan-led andAfghan-owned process.
In this context, he highlighted Pakistan’s positive contributions to theAfghan peace process.
The Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood also highlighted the situation inIndian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) marked by human rightsviolations and attempts to change the demographic structure.
Sohail Mahmood stressed the need by India to create enabling environmentand to peacefully resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute according to theUnited Nations Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiripeople.
The two sides expressed satisfaction on mutual cooperation at themultilateral fora, including at the United Nations, Organization of IslamicCooperation (OIC), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and EconomicCooperation Organization (ECO), and reaffirmed their resolve to continuecollaboration on global and regional issues of common interest.
Pakistan and Tajikistan are celebrating the 30th anniversary of theestablishment of diplomatic relations, this year. Recently, the ForeignMinister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Dushanbe for a bilateral visit inMarch 2021. The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-levelbilateral exchanges and visits at the highest level.