DUSHANBE, 12.04.2018. /NIAT “Khovar”/. On April 9, at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan and in cooperation with the Center for Global and Strategic Studies of Pakistan, a conference on «Tajikistan-Pakistan: Exploring new Dimensions of Bilateral Cooperation» was held in Islamabad, NIAT “Khovar” correspondent Akramkhoja AKBAR, who attended the conference, reports.

The conference was attended by heads and employees of research centers of the host country, ambassadors of foreign States and members of the diplomatic corps, media professionals, and representatives of industrial, financial and business circles of Pakistan.

President of the Center for Global and Strategic Studies of Pakistan Zahir-ul-Islam, opening the conference, said that: «the Republic of Tajikistan is one of the closest neighbor of Pakistan and our countries are connected by a deep historical, culture and traditions bonds that have solid spiritual ground».

“Tajikistan’s hydropower potential is huge and unique in the world, and taking into account Pakistan’s growing need for electricity, it is necessary to pay special attention to the development of bilateral cooperation in this area”, — stated Zahir-ul-Islam.

Then the head of Department of analysis and forecasting of foreign policy at the Center for strategic studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Dr. Abdullo Rahnamo made a report on the foreign policy of the Republic of Tajikistan and its relations with the countries of the region, head of Department of analysis of social issues of the Center Dr. Abdurahmon Qurbonov devoted his report to the historical and cultural relations between Tajikistan and Pakistan, a representative of Foreign Ministry Maruf Abdurahmonov told about 25 years of cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan and the Ambassador of Tajikistan, Sherali Jononov made a presentation on «CASA-1000 and new prospects of bilateral cooperation in the field of energy».

From the Center for Global and Strategic Studies, former Federal Secretary for information Mr. Ashfak Ahmad Gondal spoke on the cooperation of Tajikistan and Pakistan in the field of information, a member of the Council of the Center, Ambassador Mr. Amjad Majid Abbasi spoke about the historical moments of bilateral relations between the two countries, and the head of the «CityBank» Mr. Jovid Majid shared plans for the development of socio-economic cooperation between the two countries.

Summing up the results of the conference, the participants noted that relations between Tajikistan and Pakistan continue to develop dynamically in all spheres and last year both countries raised the status of their relations to the level of strategic partnership. It was concluded that the potential of cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan is very high and it is necessary to intensify the scientific and expert dialogue, which will contribute to international efforts to combat new challenges and threats.

It should be noted that, as part of this conference, the delegation of Tajikistan held a number of constructive meetings with representatives of several ministries and departments of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, including with Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Nasser Khan Janjua, the President of the All Pakistan Newspaper Society  Sarmad Ali, the Spokesperson of the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Faisal, Editor-in-chief of Daily Herald Ghulam Akbar and others.

During the meetings, the parties had an exchange of views on the development and expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan in various fields, in particular in culture, information, tourism and mutual researches.