Diplomatic ties: Direct flights between Islamabad and Dushanbe to begin

20 years of Pak-Tajik relations celebrated.

ISLAMABAD:

There will be direct flights between Islamabad and Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ammad Khan on Wednesday.

He was speaking at an event at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) to mark the twenty years of diplomatic ties with Pakistan and Tajikistan. A host of foreign diplomats and students attended the event.

In his welcome address, Tajik envoy Zubaydullo Zubaydov highlighted the relationship between the two countries and talked about bilateral projects in the pipeline.

“Tajikistan is focused on multi-sector cooperation, especially with the nations of the region with whom the country has maintained cultural and economic ties for centuries, particularly Pakistan.”

Tajikistan is looking forward to boosting cooperation in hydel energy, communications, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, education, science and technology and tourism, he added.

Khan said the historical relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan pre-date their independence. “Our ties go back a 100 years since we have common religion, beliefs, heritage, roots, culture and traditions.”

He said the two countries take part in settlement of regional issues, contribute to building up integration processes within the Organisation of Economic Corporation and the Shanghai Corporation Organisation.

Many of the students present at the occasion, however, seemed unaware of the shared relationship. “A scholarship programme or cultural exchange should be set up to create stronger diplomatic ties,” Anwar, a student, pointed out.

Speakers at the event discussed possible initiatives that could be taken to further strategic, political and economic objectives. The event was attended by diplomats from Brazil, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kuwait, Yemen and Qatar.

NUML Rector Maj Gen (retd) Masood Hasan and the Tajik envoy presented shields to the speakers and the guests at the end.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2012.