https://twitter.com/home https://www.facebook.com/Shabbir.Hussain191By Shabbir Hussain
ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (Alliance News): The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, through its Central Asia Program for Regional Cooperation and Connectivity, hosted a high-level curtain-raiser event titled “Understanding the Action Plan of Cooperation Between Astana and Islamabad” ahead of the first official visit of Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to Pakistan scheduled for February 2026.
According to a press release issued on Saturday, the event brought together diplomats, scholars, and policy experts to review the bilateral Action Plan of Cooperation and explore ways to further strengthen Pakistan–Kazakhstan relations.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of the Institute of Regional Studies, welcomed Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, and highlighted the importance of President Tokayev’s upcoming visit.
He said Pakistan and Kazakhstan share strong political ties and a common cultural heritage, stressing the need to convert these historical bonds into practical and result-oriented cooperation.
He noted that the visit would play a key role in advancing bilateral understanding and deepening regional and diplomatic engagement.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin recalled the long-standing friendship between the two countries and noted that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Kazakhstan after its independence in 1991.
He referred to early high-level exchanges that laid the foundation for decades of strong diplomatic relations.
The ambassador outlined Kazakhstan’s focus on regional connectivity and economic cooperation, emphasizing efforts to enhance trade, infrastructure development, and business-to-business links.
He said Kazakhstan aims to move from being landlocked to land-linked by improving regional infrastructure connecting Central Asia with the Middle East, Europe, and China. In this context, he highlighted the importance of the Karakoram Highway and potential railway links for improving Pakistan–Kazakhstan connectivity.
Ambassador Kistafin also pointed to cooperation opportunities in textiles, pharmaceuticals, finance including Islamic banking, education, tourism, sports, and culture to strengthen people-to-people ties.
He said shared regional challenges such as security issues, drug trafficking, and language barriers should be addressed through dialogue and cooperation, while youth engagement and academic exchanges could promote better mutual understanding.
An interactive question-and-answer session followed, focusing on transport and railway connectivity, regional security, trade facilitation, defence cooperation, and youth engagement.
Participants stressed the importance of peaceful relations, regional connectivity, and stronger economic and cultural ties.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem expressed confidence in the future of Pakistan–Kazakhstan relations and reaffirmed the IRS’s commitment to promoting regional understanding through its Central Asia Program led by Hamzah Rifaat.
He also welcomed Azerbaijan’s inclusion in the broader Central Asian framework and reiterated the institute’s guiding principle, “Know thy neighbours,” emphasizing the value of sustained dialogue for long-term cooperation.
