Tashkent, 30 July 2022 (TDI): During the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tashkent, the Foreign minister of Pakistan and the Foreign minister of Kazakhstan had a side-by-side meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister and Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi met with  Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Delegations of Pakistan and Kazakhstan in meeting
Delegations of Pakistan and Kazakhstan in meeting

The two Ministers acknowledged their appreciation for the close and friendly ties between their nations during the meeting, and they also spoke about the region’s current state.

Under Pakistan’s “Vision Central Asia” Policy, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan underlined his country’s commitment to fostering positive and extensive engagement with Central Asia.

In addition to commerce and investment, energy, connectivity, security, and cultural spheres, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening relations with Kazakhstan.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the significance of realizing the enormous potential to increase commerce and investment between the two nations.

He also emphasized Pakistan’s aim to serve as a regional commerce hub by offering landlocked Central Asian Republics the quickest and most cost-effective transit route to its seaports.

Also read: Foreign Ministers of Tajikistan and Pakistan meet 

Pakistan and Kazakhstan Relations

Pakistan was one of the first few nations to recognize Kazakhstan’s independence in December 1991, after the collapse of  USSR following the Cold War.

In 1992, the two nations formally commenced diplomatic relations. Based on a shared perspective on global concerns and mutual respect and goodwill, Pakistan and Kazakhstan have friendly ties.

Further, the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Collaboration has institutionalized bilateral cooperation.

In several organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC), and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, Pakistan and Kazakhstan are both members (CICA).

The Pakistani population in Kazakhstan is less in number. In various Kazakhstani cities, there are 559 Pakistani citizens. Almaty is where the majority of the locals reside.