DUSHANBE: President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Tajikistan on Thursday to attend the third quadrilateral summit betweenTajikistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Russian Federation.
The President was warmly received by Tajik Minister for Water Resources Rehmat Bobokalonov, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Amjad Sial and other senior officials at Dushanbe International Airport.
Zardari was accompanied by Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain.
In his arrival statement the president said that this important forum provided an opportunity to reflect upon the co-operation between the four countries in the fields of economy, trade, defence, energy, fight against narcotics, combating extremism and terrorism as well as trilateral consultations.
He said that Pakistan was looking forward to an early establishment and development of of air, road and rail links in the region connecting Central Asia to the seaports in Pakistan. This will further enhance people-to-people contacts and tourism, the President added.
He said that the CASA-1000 (Central-Asian and South-Asian) was the most important project in the realm of our regional energy cooperation and Pakistan was committed to its early implementation.
The President said that Pakistan and Tajikistan had excellent relations in areas of trade, economy, defence, education, investment, energy and human resource development and that both countries were facing similar regional challenges as “our region is infested with poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment and lack of economic opportunities and all these challenges have led our region to an abyss where militancy nourishes”.
He said that Pakistan and Tajikistan’s relationship was a natural union of brotherhood, friendship and of mutual respect, between governments, for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Our governments are determined to provide a better future to our generations and we are looking towards that end,” the President said.
From the airport, President Zardari left for the presidential palace to hold a bilateral meeting with his Tajik counterpart.
Zardari meets Takjik President Rahmon
President Asif Ali Zardari and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met here at Qasr-e-Millat, Dushanbe, to discuss matter relating to bilateral relations, regional situation, common challenges and the way forward in addressing the issues of common concern.
This is Zardari’s third visit of President to Tajikistan—first as Member National Assembly in 1995 and second in 2009 to participate in first Quadrilateral Summit. He hoped that this visit would not only help in bringing Pakistan and Tajikistan closer and cementing bilateral relations but would also help in chalking out mutually agreed strategy to find way forward to the issues concerning the two countries and to explore possibilities where all participating countries could pool their resources for the betterment of the people of the region.
Zardari said that being the immediate neighbours, the two countries have vital stakes in peace and stability of Afghanistan.
He said that during today’s meeting the two Presidents agreed upon the need to work earnestly on extending existing connectivity modes between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Zardari said that the existing road link from Dushanbe to Peshawar via Kabul-Torkhum did not generate much business activities owing to difficulties faced by the business community in shape of security hazards and high tariffs. Moreover, the bounds restrictions on goods vehicles also impede business activities due to unnecessary off-loading and on-loading process twice in Afghanistan thus multiplying the cost and transportation time.
The two Presidents discussed matters relating to extending air links between the two countries. Various options in this regard were explored by the two Presidents and both the sides agreed to work further on establishing air links as soon as possible.
President Emomali Rahmon appreciated President Zardari for his efforts for promoting regional connectivity which promises to usher a new era a development for the region.
Later the two Presidents left for Ismail Somoni where President Zardari laid the foundation of Pakistan Embassy Complex.
Zardari meets Karzai, agrees to joint military commission
President Zardari, proposed a trilateral trade agreement to include Tajikistan along the line of Afghanistan-PakistanTransit Trade Agreement.
During his meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai here at Dushanbe - one day before the Quadrilateral Summit - President Zardari said that in order to eradicate poverty and illiteracy, the root cause of breeding militant mindset, the regional countries need to concentrate on exploring more and more economic opportunities for their people and to provide them better future prospects.
President emphasized upon the need to have trilateral trade arrangements said that such an arrangement would not only benefit the people of the three countries would also generate huge economic activity in Afghanistan.
Zardari said that connectivity through all available modes hold the key to the development of the region by tremendously boosting the mutual trade activities and prompting people to people contacts.
The two Presidents also discussed issues related to Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement. They both agreed upon the need to resolve all the issues in this regard, if any.
They also discussed issues including the situation in Afghanistan, war against militancy, regional situation, developmental projects in the region with special reference to the energy projects under consideration, reconciliation process undergoing in Afghanistan and post 2014 future scenario.
Talking about situation in Afghanistan, the President reiterated that stability and peace in Afghanistan were vital for stability and peace in Pakistan. He said that our mutual efforts have enabled us opening a new chapter in our bilateral relationship and we are keen to see a stable and peaceful Afghanistan on our western side.
Zardari said that Pakistan had always called upon the international community to support and work for the permanent solution to the issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan was ready to provide all possible assistance to the international community in this regard. He said that Pakistan would continue to support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of reconciliation.
The President said that Pakistan was looking forward to the fifth meeting of the trilateral ‘Core Group’ later this month in the USA. He said that Islamabad would soon host the 2nd working level meeting of the Joint Commission for Peace Reconciliation. Zardari said that the success of Afghanistan transition hinges on the progress in reconciliation with various factions as well as preparedness to Afghan institutions to handle its responsibilities. He said that Pakistan was ready to provide all help in capacity building of Afghan institutions.
Discussing development of Afghanistan, the President highlighted that the two countries direly need energy avenues to meet their developmental requirements. He said that we should work zealously on all the energy related projects to meet our growing needs and to expedite process of development. The President also emphasized upon the early implementation of CASA-1000 project.
Recent incidents on the border also came under discussion during the meeting. The two leaders welcomed setting up of a joint military commission to deal with such unwanted incidents that could hamper the amicable equation of the two countries.
Both, Zardari and Karzai welcomed the holding of third Quadrilateral Summit in Dushanbe by Tajikistan hoping that the forum would help to bring the participating countries further closer to one another and would provide them with an opportunity to not only find ways and means for promoting development in their countries but would also help to find regional solutions to the regional problems.
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If things have not happened in 60 years, it will take another sixty years for the wish to be fulfilled.
The wishes of PAK not being fulfilled are not due to Tajikistan or other central Asian nations.
Does anyone remember the hapless flood victims? No help, no aid, no hope
@Dr.A.K.Tewari: no dr. from the comments of my indian frndz it appears that we are more obessed with pakistan than accept.
@Tajikistan : now the situation has taken a u-turn .
I have many Indian Friends and regularly Deal with Indian Customers. Indians may not like my comments but the fact is that Indians have on their minds all the time Pakistan. It is an Honor for Pakistanis.
@Bewildered: You can always sniff out the Indian trolls. They often assume Pakistani names and try to badmouth the country but it shows you the kind of obsession and fear they still harbour against Pakistan. Despite all their bluster, they remain the real cunning neighbours who won;t mind their own business.
It so amazing to read comments of Indian Trolls . . . .cannot believe they harbour so much ill will and jealousy against Pakistan, each and every time Pakistan tries to move forward toward progress. Just amazed!
Great job Mr. President Zardar and his international team! You are working hard for the future of Pakistan and its brotherly international relations. Congragulations to Tajikistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan,s common bonding . . . .indeed they share a common bond and foundation which will survive all odds! Three Cheers!!!
@ Ashok and Chander...
Disgusting comments... Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan are independent countries will decided what is better for them...when it will come to you and your country would be better for you to comment on that...don't try to step in to others affairs. One should think of a bigger picture such as regional cooperation and joint progress and you cannot do it in isolation we are interdependent. If you want development you should accept pluralism and respect diversity and make it your strength...don't forget you are living among Muslims as citizens of India, you should make friends rather keeping enemies in your neighborhood.
Thinking that US will leave Afghanistan is gonna happen and revival of Zoroastrian nation has no importance--can only been explore in history. All we have to concentrate on how we can build bridges between countries we live and develop network through transit roads so we are economically strong. Opening Ancient Silk route, realizing the fact that Pakistan and Afghanistan geographically located in a place where they can provide road access to various countries particularly Central Asian countries and and China to the West and Chitral is one of the safe, peaceful and shorter transit road and this will create opportunities for most unprivileged mountainous communities to be developed.
@chander: That is not a good comment. I have lived in Saudi Arabia for 10 yrs and the arabs are good people. Please don't antagonise our Saudi friends. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called India his second home. And we do a lot of business with our old friends. So please let things be. Let us Indians lead a low profile life. Don't need any show-off or exercise in chest thumping.
@Ashok: Yup, We don't want to nuke our Tajik brothers just because they are petting wrong breed of dogs ...
India can call pakistan what ever it wants. Spread 100s of lies about us. But When its comes to it the bonds of Islam are stronger
I don't know why people of Pakistan still "critisize" the president. In PPP era, Pakistan built and enjoy tons of good relations with other countries ultimately gives a good impact on economy of destabilize country. I'm not a supporter of PPP but I like the way they faced tough situations with such braveness.... :)
Pakistan should encourage building of a transit road/corridor to China and Tajikistan and give access to sea route through Gwadar. of Pakistan Government of Pakistan should enter into a public -private partnership with Aga Khan Development Network to build the road on Pakistan side.
Let there be development in the country
@Ashok: Keep living in your bubble of self-importance. All I can say is: your comment made by day :)
I think there is still big room for improvement. Developing air links, road and train links can be quite effective given the proximity that we enjoy. Besides, Pakistan's ports are viable to get through Central Asia quickly. Thus Tajikistan can benefit from that. There is common migration between the two countries with many Tajik businesspeople and merchants based in the northern areas. I personally know many Tajik students here at University of Karachi. There could also be room for tourism; Gilgit Baltistan shares a similiar culture with that of neighboring Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
In the end, most of these things matter more in bonding and forging a friendly diplomatic relationship than say, maintaining an "army base at Ayni" alone.
@Ashok...fume all you want. Ask any person with some diplomatic knowledge, that Pakistan maintaining relations with Tajikistan makes sense and is probably more important than say Tajikistan maintianing relations with India.
Tajikistan lies very close to northern Pakistan, seperated only by the narrow Wakhan corridor. They are almost bordering countries. Besides, there are over 1.2 million Tajikis in Pakistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TajiksinPakistan) who would benefit from bilateral relations. To go through Tajikistan from the Arabian sea requires travelling through Pakistan. Thus strategically, Pakistan;s ports are most convenient for travelling to Central Asia. For more see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan%E2%80%93Tajikistan_relations
@Ashok...this article is not about India or your jingoistic Hindu nationalism. You seem to be brainwashed by Bal Thackery of Shiv Sena
wasting taxpayer money and traveling around china and europe... what nonsense for a poor, half fed, beggar nation like us? Why is my tax money wasted on these useless politicians going around the world in luxury flights and hotels, without a single benefit to common man?? Who is going to do trade with the most violent and deadly country? We need to clean our house first before waste public money on nonsense trips to satisfy beijing's vision.
@Ashok: Yes it is very natural that Pakistani President would try his level best to take care of the Indian Base. Tajikistan is a friendly nation having close cultural links with Pakistan and it is definitely not appropriate to allow basses to India. About Zoroastrianism it is your wishful thinking for which you have every right.
Probably Zardari is seeking an agreement for the removal of Indian forces from the base at AYNI. My prediction is that within 30 years time, Tajikistan will become the first Zoroastrian nation after a gap of over a thousand years since the downfall of the last Zoroastrian kings of Iran. This will set into motion a sequence of events that will be favorable to India.
Where is our prime minister??? President of Pakistan should have been just a ceremonial position, and all important matters should have been handled by the elected prime minister.
Are pakistani politician treat foreign trip as holiday, why so many trip can't they do thing in a single trip.