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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday stressed the need for improving defence relations with Tajikistan after the two countries signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) for cooperation in various sectors, including sale of Pakistan-manufactured arms to Tajikistan.

The prime minister was addressing a joint press conference with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon who earlier arrived here on a two-day official visit. He was received at the PM House, where he was given a guard of honour. They had a one-on-one meeting and attended a ceremony where various MoUs were signed. Delegation level talks were also held.

The prime minister also reiterated that Pakistan could not normalise relations with India until it revoked its actions, taken on August 05, 2019 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) and emphasised that if the relations did not improve, then India, Pakistan and the whole region will continue to suffer.

He continued that the potential, this region offered, could only be harnessed, if there is regional peace. The prime minister said on one side, there was Afghanistan while on the other, unfortunately India had taken unilateral actions on August 5 in disregard to the international laws and the UNSC resolutions and now it was very difficult to have normalised relations with it including trade. It will be tantamount to betraying the sacrifices of Kashmiris. It will be a treachery with them. Unless India reverses its unilateral steps, our relations cant normalise and the region cant be connected. Strategically, the Central Asian Republics can have access through Gwadar, but if relations with India normalise, then Pakistan is at a pivotal place to connect the entire region. But this is dependent on India to reverse its actions of August 05, he argued.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that in the realm of common challenges faced by Pakistan and Tajikistan, both sides agreed that peace in Afghanistan was a priority. If the US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan is similar to what Russia did in 1989, we both are concerned about the security to our trade and connectivity, he said.

The premier emphasised that trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan was very important and it would tremendously increase through Gwadars connectivity. Speaking on Afghanistan, Imran said that peace in Afghanistan was very important for trade and connectivity with Tajikistan to increase. He added both countries shared concern over Afghanistan sliding back into instability with no political settlement after the withdrawal of the US forces. He emphasised, Our trade will be affected because we fear with the spread of anarchy terrorism will also increase, threatening stability and we both have decided to push for a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan. We both share this concern and want that when the US leaves, there is a political settlement and a government of consensus is installed there, which can check anarchy, he noted. Imran said they discussed and agreed on how to take along other countries of the world on the critical issue of political settlement in Afghanistan.

The second major issue, he explained, they had discussed was of climate change and global warming since they posed a common threat to Tajikistan and Pakistan as the two countries depend on glaciers for their water supply. He added if the world doesnt act sooner on global warming then the next generations of both the countries will live under constant threat so we have decided to further play our role on climate change.

The Tajik president also talked about the measures taken by his country to overcome climate change and preserve glaciers such as calling for declaring 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers Preservation to which Prime Minister Imran Khan also affirmed Pakistans support.

The two leaders also discussed issues with reference to Islamophobia and the reasons why it continues to spread. Prime Minister Imran Khan said that blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) and linking Islam with terrorism were the main reasons for its spread.

Imran termed the MOU signed between the NAB and Tajikistans corruption bureaus as very significant because he said there was a need to take action against money laundering and illicit financial flows from countries like Pakistan and Tajikistan.

The Tajik president said that talks were held in a very friendly atmosphere and Tajikistan was satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations. Emomali Rahmon remarked, Tajikistan recognises the friendly country of Pakistan as a reliable and trustworthy partner on the international stage.

He said that the signed MOUs would strengthen the legal framework of bilateral relations between the two countries and they discussed how cooperation could be increased in investment, trade, agriculture, connectivity and healthcare.

While noting satisfaction over the high level exchanges between the two countries, the Tajik president said, We have also highlighted significant role of Joint Inter governmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation. He said the two sides have agreed to resume business council as well as the joint working groups on energy and infrastructure as soon as the situation improves after Covid-19.

Rahmon expressed his countrys special interest in continuing fruitful cooperation of the two countries in implementation of energy related projects including CASA-1000.

The Tajik president also expressed his countrys interest in joining regional transport corridor projects. He said, We have also discussed Tajikistans access to Karachi and Gwadar seaports. He noted the cooperation between the two countries in agriculture and food security will also help supply the region organic agriculture products. He reaffirmed his countrys unwavering support to Pakistans continuous efforts in ensuring peace in the region and countering the international terrorism.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday stressed upon proper tapping of immense potential and resources of the ten-member Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) for the collective regional progress and prosperity.

Addressing a concluding ceremony of 2nd conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (PAECO) countries, the ECO countries were blessed with diverse resources and potentials and their proper utilisation would be beneficial for all.

The prime minister observed that according to estimates, the combined population of these countries stood around 450 million making this region a powerhouse. He said all the ECO 10 member-countries were blessed with diverse resources and potentials and their proper utilisation would be beneficial for all.

The prime minister observed that it is not the countries but the regions which make progress. After the formation of European Union, the economic and trade activities cooperation was enhanced bringing economic prosperity to the EU countries, he concluded.

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Regional progress depends on India and Afghanistan - The News International