Pakistan and Tajikistan agreed to expand interaction in the field of military and military-technical cooperation, conduct joint exercises, exchange experiences and organize training for military personnel. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan.
According to the department, an agreement was reached following a meeting between the Minister of Defense of Tajikistan, Colonel General Emomali Sobirzoda, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Pakistani Armed Forces, General Sakhir Shamshad Mirza in Islamabad.
It is noted that during the negotiations, the parties noted the peace-loving policy of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif, and also gave a positive assessment to the prospects for further development of cooperation on this basis.
In addition, issues of military-technical cooperation, joint exercises, exchange of experience and personnel training were discussed.
The parties emphasized the importance of strengthening friendly and fraternal relations in an unstable regional and international situation.
Development of bilateral relations
Tajikistan and Pakistan have maintained diplomatic relations since 1992. Islamabad was one of the first states to recognize the independence of Tajikistan after the collapse of the USSR.
Energy remains one of the key areas of interaction: Pakistan is interested in importing electricity from Tajikistan as part of the CASA-1000 project, aimed at transferring electricity from Central Asia to South Asia. Geographic proximity and common security challenges make military cooperation an important element of bilateral relations. Islamabad and Dushanbe have repeatedly stated their intention to strengthen coordination in the fight against terrorism, cross-border crime and extremism.