Islamabad: In a landmark bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov on his maiden two-day state visit—the first by a Kyrgyz head of state in two decades. The leaders pledged to turbocharge cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, and beyond, aiming to elevate bilateral trade to $200 million by 2027-28.
Sharif hailed the visit as a “highly beneficial” milestone, underscoring Pakistan’s “Vision Central Asia” policy to deepen ties with Central Asian nations rooted in shared history and values. Zhaparov reciprocated with gratitude for the warm reception, expressing eagerness to explore new collaborative avenues.
Discussions spanned regional flashpoints: Both nations urged the Afghan Taliban to fulfill international commitments and address Pakistan’s security concerns through verifiable anti-terror actions, reaffirming support for a stable Afghanistan. On Gaza, they voiced unwavering backing for Palestinian self-determination and a sovereign state on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital, condemning threats to regional peace and advocating UN Charter-guided resolutions.
Energy and infrastructure took center stage, with enthusiasm for the CASA-1000 project’s swift rollout to link Central and South Asia. The duo celebrated the operationalization of a road corridor under the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA) for bolstered trade routes.
The talks, attended by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy PM/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and others, culminated in 15 MoUs and agreements on energy, mining, trade, education, agriculture, culture, tourism, law, and justice. Earlier, Zhaparov received a guard of honor, followed by a Sharif-hosted luncheon and joint press conference.
This visit signals a strategic pivot toward economic resilience and peace, potentially reshaping South-Central Asian dynamics amid global uncertainties.