ISLAMABAD (MNN); President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan’s offer to provide Kyrgyzstan with the shortest and most cost-effective access route to the Arabian Sea, emphasising stronger regional connectivity and enhanced trade cooperation.
He made these remarks during a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov in Islamabad, where both leaders highlighted the need for increasing direct flights to promote trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
President Zardari welcomed Kyrgyzstan’s completion of its portion of the CASA-1000 energy project and assured that Pakistan was committed to completing its segment, which officials said was now in its final stages. He informed the Kyrgyz delegation that Pakistan had included Kyrgyzstan in its Business Visa List and Visa Prior to Arrival categories and urged reciprocal facilitation for Pakistani investors and travellers.
President Zhaparov thanked Pakistan for supporting Kyrgyzstan’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council and invited President Zardari to visit Bishkek. Both sides also expressed satisfaction over the operational road corridor under the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement, terming it a vital step towards expanding regional trade. A state banquet was held in honour of the Kyrgyz president after the meeting.
In a separate engagement, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan underscored the importance of regional peace and agreed that the Afghan Taliban must fulfil their commitments to the international community. The consensus emerged during talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Zhaparov at the PM House.
Both delegations, including senior officials, stressed that the Afghan Taliban should address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking concrete and verifiable steps against terrorist groups. The two sides reviewed regional developments and emphasised that disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
The leaders also discussed the situation in Gaza and reiterated their firm support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief Asim Munir, federal ministers and senior officials, highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to expanding ties with Central Asian states under the Vision Central Asia policy.
Both sides reviewed ongoing cooperation and reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen partnership in trade, energy, connectivity and cultural exchanges. They agreed to raise bilateral trade to 200 million dollars by 2027-28 through effective implementation of existing agreements.
Both countries emphasised the importance of regional energy connectivity and the timely completion of the CASA-1000 project. They also stressed the need for secure and diversified trade routes, expressing satisfaction over the operationalisation of the road corridor under the QTTA framework.
Later, both leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of 15 MoUs and agreements in sectors such as energy, mining, trade, education, agriculture, culture and tourism. The visiting president was also presented a guard of honour and hosted at an official luncheon.
