Pakistan can serve as economic link to South and Central Asia, Musharraf tells Tajik president

President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said Pakistan desires establishment of durable peace in the South Asian and Central Asian regions and can serve as a vital link for enhancing economic co-operation between them.
Addressing a banquet hosted in honour of the visiting Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmonov, the President noted that South Asia and Central Asia have vast potential for promoting trade but political disputes confronting them have kept the economic co-operation to unsatisfactory levels, leaving them far behind other regions of Asia and the world.
"Pakistan stands for peace, we are for peace and stability in Afghanistan and in South Asia, we have initiated a process for resolution of outstanding issues including Kashmir with India for durable peace and progress".
Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Speaker National Assembly, Chairman Senate, legislators, services chiefs also attended the banquet.
Pakistan remains firmly committed to the Bonn process and endeavours of President Karzai for national reconciliation and reconstruction of Afghanistan.
President Musharraf informed his Tajik counterpart that Pakistan would facilitate the Central Asian country in expanding trade with Pakistan and the rest of the world through Pakistani land routes and ports.
"We are constructing the Gwadar Port and improving road networks in the country, we are constructing Torkham-Jalalabad Road in Afghanistan, as part of our endeavours to establish land route with Tajikistan".
Musharraf said as an important member of the international coalition against terrorism, Pakistan has been actively co-operating with the international community and has taken a number of steps to root out the scourge of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism.
Referring to the challenges facing the Muslim world, the President said the way forward is the enlightened moderation. Muslim countries should focus on internal reforms and renewal through socio-economic development.
He underlined that the OIC must play a pivotal role in promoting enlightened moderation.
"We must reform and empower this organisation. I am glad that the 10th Islamic summit endorsed my proposal to establish a commission to look comprehensively into all aspects of OIC reform."
Pakistan and Tajikistan, as Muslim countries with common objectives can play an important role in revitalising the OIC.
Tajik President Rahmonov said that both Pakistan and Tajikistan share unanimity of views on a host of regional and international issues.
Both countries, he said, have agreed to deepen their bilateral relations through increased economic co-operation.
Rahmonov said Tajikistan fully supports Musharraf's call for enlightened moderation and his initiatives for peace in the region.