Islamabad:
Pakistan and Kazakhstan on Tuesday signed a “action plan for cooperation” aimed at giving fresh driving force to their bilateral relations as the two countries prepared for the visit of the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Islamabad later this year.
The action plan, signed successor at the delegation level between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Kazakh colleague, Murat Nurtleu, set a structured roadmap to expand engagement across multiple domains, read a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
It imagines closer cooperation in politics, trade and economics, defense and security, science and technology, culture, tourism, humanitarian assistance and consular relief. It also institutionalizes regular consultations between the two foreign ministries.
Officials described the plan as a “significant milestone” that reflects both leaders’ political will to raise the relationship with “a new level of dynamics, rooted in mutual trust, shared values and a forward vision for regional peace and prosperity.”
The Kazakh Foreign Minister, who also serves as his country’s Deputy Prime Minister, arrived at Islamabad on Monday on a two-day official visit. He was accompanied by ministers of transport and trade, deputy ministers of it and agriculture as well as other senior officials.
During the negotiations at the delegation level, the two sides reviewed the full range of bilateral relations with a particular focus on improving trade and investment flows, expanding agricultural cooperation and promoting collaboration in information technology, education, culture and tourism.
Strengthening regional connection through logistics and transport relations were also prominent in the discussions, according to the Foreign Office’s statement. The two delegations also exchanged views on multilateral cooperation and regional development.
At the end of the formal negotiations, the two deputy prime minister instructed their respective teams for quick tracking on agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (Mous), which is expected to be completed in time for Kazakhstan President’s upcoming visit.
The visit comes as a prelude to President Tokayev’s trip to Pakistan in November, the first of a Kazakh head of state of more than two decades. The last such visit took place in 2003 when the then President Nursultan Nazarbayev arrived here.
The Kazakh delegation’s engagements in Islamabad went beyond the foreign office. Foreign Minister Nurtleu called Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He also held separate meetings with Pakistan’s ministers for communication, railways and trade.
According to an official extradition, Shehbaz the Kazakh Foreign Minister said Pakistan was eager to improve bilateral trade, investment, people-to-human exchanges and connection through air, rail and road with Kazakhstan. Shehbaz also conveyed his hot wishes to President Tokayev.
The Prime Minister stated that Pakistan attaches great importance to the Kazakh president and offered to send a delegation to Astana to end the various mous and agreements considered.
Nurtleu briefed the Prime Minister about his detailed discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Dar earlier in the day. He emphasized that the upcoming visit by President Tokayev in Islamabad would be historical and successful and would open a new and exciting chapter in Pakistan-Kazakhstan bands.
Meanwhile, the Kazakh delegation also participated in the meetings of the joint working groups on information technology (IT) and agriculture. The visiting Team toured the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP) to explore opportunities for collaboration in the IT sector.
Deputy Prime Minister Nurtleu also held a business meeting with leading Pakistani conglomerates, signaling Astana’s interest in exploiting the opportunities on Pakistan’s market and offering mutual access to Central Asia.
The visit and signing of the action plan mark a renewed push from both countries to elaborate on the tape at a time when Pakistan is trying to expand his footprint in Central Asia under its “Vision Central Asia” policy. For Kazakhstan, Outreach gives a chance to build stronger connection to South Asia and beyond.
(With input from app)
