ISLAMABAD: The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)’s China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) organized a Roundtable with the Heads of Mission of Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
Turkmenistan’s Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Atadjan Mamlamov, led the delegation of CAR-Azerbaijan. Other members of the delegation: Aybek Usmanov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan; Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan; Melis Moldaliev, Counselor Kyrgyz Republic, Tamerlan Khalilov, Charge d’ Affaires of Azerbaijan; Saidjon Shafiev, and Charge d’ Affaires of Tajikisan .
The ISSI officials taking part in the event included Director General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Chairman BoG Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, and CPSC members.
Director CPSC, Dr. Talat Shabbir, as part of his introductory remarks, informed the delegation on ISSI’s mission and working. Further, he highlighted Pakistan’s trade and cultural ties with Central Asian states along with Azerbaijan.
Warmly welcoming the members of the delegation, DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood emphasized Pakistan’s deep cultural and historical links with Azerbaijan and Central Asia and the measures underway to further fortify these relationships.
Pakistan’s policy on Central Asian States highlighted
He further highlighted Pakistan’s policy of ‘Vision Central Asia’ and its five-pronged focus on enhancing diplomatic and political; investment and trade; connectivity and energy; security and defense; along with cultural and people-to-people ties.
Furthermore, he said that, apart from history and culture, the major driver of this policy was Pakistan’s geo-economics pivot.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood further underscored the significant importance of connectivity within the region and stressed that Pakistan provide’s the shortest link to the sea to the states of Central Asia.
He added that both sides were working on boosting ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ connectivity, he inter alia suggested that Pakistan along with Central Asian states and Azerbaijan should set up a network of think-tanks, for the purpose the Institute of Strategic Studies offered its platform. This will aid in reinforcing and advancing the mutual goals in a number of domains.
In their respective speeches, the Ambassadors/Heads of Mission welcomed the step to hold the Roundtable and agreed with the overall objective of boosting bilateral relationships in numerous fields and boosting engagement at the regional level. During the detailed interactions in interactive sessions, suggestions of value, were made by the Heads of Mission to further boost exchanges at high-levels, boost business-to-business links, promote communication and energy projects, build think-tank and academic networks, and carry out cultural exchanges on regularly.
The delegates agreed on holding events to develop policy recommendations and suggest measures to boost mutual awareness of numerous opportunities for heightened collaboration between both sides, on bilaterally as well as regionally.
Following these deliberations, Chairman of ISSI’s BoG Ambassador Khalid Mahmood delivered his concluding remarks.
After his comments, a presentation of ISSI publications was made to the delegation.
