Pakistan, Kazakhstan reaffirm to strengthen strategic partnership

Pakistan and Kazakhstan have reaffirmed to further strengthen their strategic partnership. The resolve was expressed during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and his counterpart of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Islamabad today. The two Presidents first held a tête-à-tête meeting, during which they exchanged views on key bilateral, regional and international issues, which was followed by an extended meeting with their respective delegations. Speaking on the occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan and Kazakhstan share a firm commitment to broadening cooperation across political, economic and regional domains, while affirming Pakistan's readiness to work closely with the country to advance shared goals of peace, connectivity and sustainable development. He said Pakistan and Kazakhstan share a relationship rooted in mutual trust, shared values and a common vision for regional prosperity. He noted that the visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the first by a Kazakh head of state in over two decades, has provided a timely opportunity to reinvigorate bilateral ties and translate political goodwill into concrete outcomes through expanded cooperation and stronger institutional linkages. Highlighting economic engagement, the President observed that while bilateral trade has registered growth in recent years, it remains well below its true potential. Asif Ali Zardari expressed confidence that the Roadmap for Trade and Economic Cooperation 2025-2027, together with agreements on transit trade, customs cooperation and banking, would help remove operational bottlenecks and open new avenues for trade, investment and business-to-business collaboration. He also underscored the importance of leveraging Pakistan's facilities and frameworks in areas such as energy, agriculture, mining, information technology and defence production. President Zardari underscored the centrality of regional connectivity in strengthening Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations. He welcomed progress on rail and road linkages, including cooperation on the CASA railway alignment and effective utilization of Quadrilateral Transit Trade Agreement routes and noted that enhanced connectivity, supported by improved air links and access to Pakistani ports, would not only boost bilateral trade but also contribute to wider regional integration and economic stability. The two leaders welcomed the signing of a substantial number of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, as well as steps aimed at strengthening bilateral linkages. They expressed the confidence that these outcomes would provide renewed momentum to mutual ties and help realize the significant untapped potential of economic cooperation. Exchanging views on regional and international developments, President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated Pakistan's commitment to peace, dialogue and respect for international law. He stressed the need for collective efforts to promote stability in South Asia and the broader region and emphasized that regional challenges should be addressed through cooperation rather than confrontation. In his remarks, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said his country attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and regards the partnership as a key pillar of regional cooperation. He expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties. He reaffirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to working closely with Pakistan to strengthen connectivity, expand economic cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region. The Kazakh President noted that several prominent Kazakh business leaders, including three billionaires, were part of his delegation and said that the target of one billion dollars in bilateral trade was achievable. He also welcomed greater numbers of Pakistani students and tourists to Kazakhstan. The two leaders expressed confidence that the visit would open a new chapter in Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations and agreed to maintain close coordination to advance shared goals of connectivity, economic cooperation and regional stability. Later, both sides held meeting in extended form.