Islamabad (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov on Thursday, reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to further deepen its ties with the Central Asian nation, according to the Foreign Office.
President Zhaparov arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, the first trip to Pakistan by a Kyrgyz head of state in two decades, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted in a message on X.
In its statement, the FO said Dar welcomed the visiting president and his delegation, conveying greetings on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz. Dar underscored that Pakistan’s top leadership is committed to expanding cooperation with Kyrgyzstan across areas of shared interest.
During the meeting, Dar also briefed Zhaparov on his scheduled interactions with Pakistan’s leadership, planned engagements with business communities from both countries, and ongoing efforts to enhance wide-ranging bilateral cooperation.
Read More: Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov Arrives in Islamabad on Maiden Visit
A day earlier, Dar had received Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev at the Foreign Office, where the two sides held detailed consultations on issues of common concern.
Several MoUs are expected to be signed during the visit, covering cooperation in trade, investment, IT, natural resources, and defense.
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan enjoy longstanding ties shaped by cultural and historical links. In recent months, both countries have been exploring new avenues of collaboration, including agreements on cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital finance, reached in August.
Read More: ‘Fresh Momentum’ in Ties as Kyrgyz President Arrives in Pakistan on Maiden Visit
In July, the two sides also reaffirmed their target of raising bilateral trade to $100 million, during a meeting of their intergovernmental commission.
Beyond bilateral relations, both nations are active members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), alongside China, Russia, India, Iran, and other regional partners.
