Pakistan and Tajikistan on Wednesday agreed to enhance co-operation in trade, economy and defence sectors for the mutual benefit and to make all-out efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries. The two sides reached agreement during a meeting between Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar and his Tajik counterpart Colonel General Khayrulloev Sherali Khayrulleovich, here.
Khayrulloev called on Mukhtar at the Defence Ministry and exchanged matters of bilateral interest with him. The meeting expressed satisfaction over the existing level of relationship and agreed to further expand and enhance the bilateral co-operation so as to meet the challenges being faced by the region. They also exchanged views on the geo-political situation of the region with special reference to Afghanistan.
The defence minister informed his Tajik counterpart that Pakistan desires to see peace and stability in Afghanistan because a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of the entire region. The meeting emphasised that both the countries should make joint efforts to promote durable peace and stability in the war-torn Afghanistan.
The minister appreciated the stance taken by Tajikistan on the Kashmir issue. He also offered seats to the military officials of Tajikistan in the defence institutions of Pakistan. Khayrulloev told Mukhtar that he had come to Pakistan with intention to further broaden and strengthen relationship between the two countries.
He said both the countries have lot of potential to increase co-operation in different sectors and practical measures are required to be taken to achieve the desired goals. Later, the two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of their respective countries. They expressed hope that the MoU would go a long way in promoting defence co-operation as well as provide an opportunity to bring the two countries closer.