Mirsaid Rahmonov
“It is time for us to take effective action to strengthen the central role of the United Nations in resolving conflicts and restoring peace and stability on the planet.” President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon
“Our object should be peace within, and peace without. We want to live peacefully and maintain cordial friendly relations with our immediate neighbors and with the world at large.” Muhammad Ali Jinnah
“Peace is not the absence of anything. Real peace is the presence of something beautiful. Both peace and the thirst for it have been in the heart of every human being in every century and every civilization.” Prem Rawat (Author 1957 – present, India and USA)
It has been a few days since the conflict and the “you and me” between India and Pakistan have been in the news, which has brought diplomatic relations between them to a standstill. The conflicts between the two neighboring countries have arisen since their establishment, and have escalated due to border disputes, religious differences and political conflicts, especially issues related to the status of the Jammu and Kashmir region, leading to several wars and numerous conflicts. Thus, since 2019, it has reached its peak again, and most recently, due to the terrorist attack on April 22, 2025 in Pahalgam, in which 26 people, including tourists, were killed.
The situation in relations between the two neighboring countries has escalated to the point of severed diplomatic ties, a breakdown in trade relations and border conflicts, resulting in losses on both sides. It is essential for us to take a look at these complex issues, the role of regional countries and dialogues and consultations in reducing and preventing conflicts.
Today’s world, or in other words, “globalization” in its modern ways and processes, is entangled in a whirlpool of complex issues, including the clash of cultures and civilizations, religious and sectarian divisions and conflicts, the unprecedented spread of terrorism and extremism, and the use of “double politics” towards extremist groups, and has become a means of using various self-interested forces. Leaders and scholars are needed to constantly strive to correctly understand and prevent its dangers and dangers, and to educate their younger generation in the light of wisdom.
Read More: EU Urges India, Pakistan to De-escalate and Engage
Thus, the messages and meetings of President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon have attracted the attention of more and more states. It should be noted that President Rahmon, paid special attention to the pressing issues of the planet, and on September 23, 2024, during his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, proposed to adopt a special resolution of the United Nations “Decade of Peacebuilding for Future Generations”.
The leadership of Tajikistan has consistently used the wisdom and protection of humanity in its messages and proposals under the slogan “Humanity is an integral part of each other”, and has been constantly striving to preserve peace, creativity, friendship and neighborliness. As President Rahmon emphasized, “Today we are witnessing an increase in conflicts in different parts of the world, which have resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties among civilians.”
At the same time, he emphasized the need for leaders to unite around common goals to ensure lasting peace throughout the globe and end human suffering caused by wars and their terrible consequences. “It is time for us to take effective action to strengthen the central role of the United Nations in resolving conflicts and restoring peace and stability on the planet.”
It is worth noting that India and Pakistan are located in South Asia, a part of the Asian continent, which is the largest region in the world and accounts for half of the world’s population. The continent’s abundant natural resources and intelligent and skilled people constitute the strengths and capabilities of various countries. India and Pakistan are active members of regional and interregional organizations and forums such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SAARC, and the Organization for Consultation on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (OCIA), and play a role in pressing regional and global issues.
In addition, Asia includes countries such as China, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea, Turkey, Iran, and Indonesia, which have a large geographical area and are economically, socially, and politically developed.
The strategic values and the presence of powerful and knowledgeable peoples of the Asian continent, including India and Pakistan, were discovered and described to the world by the beloved poet and author of “the voice of Asia” and a herald of peace and friendship, Mirzo Tursunzoda. The poet traveled to India and Pakistan as part of a delegation of writers from the former Soviet Union, and fell in love with this ancient country and its captivating landscapes and monuments.
Read More: Call for Peace, Connectivity Amid Indian Aggression Against Pakistan
From the beginning of his life, Mirzo Tursunzoda strived for peace and friendship between people, constantly emphasizing: “Millions of people from all continents of the world look to us with hope, and we will not spare any of our strength, and in the future we will continue to hold the banner of the struggle for peace in our hands and extend the hand of friendship to all honest people of the world.”
Thus, after gaining independence in 1947, India and Pakistan were able to develop in many areas, including in the fields of industry, energy, new technologies, agriculture, literature and culture, and diplomacy, and have strengthen and consolidate relations with many countries in different regions, including Tajikistan. Tajikistan has excellent relations with both countries, and they are active partners in the SCO and a number of other international organizations.
Tajikistan and Pakistan have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, with the total volume of documents concluded exceeding 80. The country is one of Tajikistan’s main electricity buyers and a key partner in the CASA-1000 project – a global project to build a cross-border electricity transmission line to export resources from Central Asia (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) to South Asia (Afghanistan and Pakistan).
These values and opportunities are considered a factor in the development of cooperation and relations between people of literature, the active participation of specialists in the framework of educational and training programs in both countries.
Another factor in the development of cooperation is India’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which brings countries closer together through socio-economic development programs.
Another factor in the development of regional integration is the participation of leaders of Asian countries, including India and Pakistan, in regional and global forums and organizations in Dushanbe, which provided a good opportunity for meetings of the heads of member states and other participating representatives. The delegations of Pakistan and India discussed the expansion of relations, strengthening friendship and preventing undesirable phenomena and actions in the world, and assessed the strategic role of Tajikistan in creating peace, constructiveness and friendship as important.
It is noteworthy that in June 2018, at a summit held in Singapore, India proposed a formula titled “Security and Development for the Asian Region”, which is aimed at the progress of countries and the prevention of undesirable consequences, which can be used to resolve conflicts without war.
In order to strengthen and enhance regional development and integration, including Pakistan and India, it is proposed that more and better work and struggle should be done in regional cooperation and integration by creating a common vision for security and prosperity in Asia.
It is noteworthy that the inclusion of Pakistan and India in such a forum and organization embodies the relations and integration between the countries of the region, and requires them to be guarantors of the security of the people of the region.
It should be emphasized here that the SCO is considered one of the regional and global organizations, providing a platform for discussing and resolving pressing issues in the Asian region, especially conflicts and violence between countries in the region, including the wars and disputes between Israel and Palestine, Pakistan and India, and other regions.
Read More: Tajikistan’s Model of Peace and Harmony
Thus, the undesirable phrase “I and you” used by the peoples of the Asian continent, including India and Pakistan, will take root like a rotten tree, destroying the factors of insecurity and unrest, hostility and sectarianism, and the lack of integration and national unity.
On the other hand, the Pahalgam incident in India has increased the grounds for war, putting pressure on these countries to respond with force.
Pakistan’s response to the escalation of tensions with India, following a militant attack that resulted in deaths, represents a strategy of prevention of conflict and diplomatic cooperation. For Pakistan, it is important to establish strategic relations and diplomatic channels more actively, and to make more use of bilateral and neighborly diplomacy.
It is necessary for both countries, active members of the UN, SCO, SCO, and SAARC, to refrain from war and, by initiating dialogue, continue to work with useful and modern projects and programs to create a good neighborly relationship and cooperation for the freedom and peace of the region and the world.
It can be said with confidence that with the victory of common sense and useful and beneficial dialogues between peace-loving and peace-seeking countries, and considering the huge economic, political and strategic losses and costs of war, both countries need to prevent it and create roles.
It should not be forgotten that all countries in the Asian region, especially India and Pakistan, have different civilizations and cultures, religions and sects, nations and peoples, and from time to time they are faced with challenges, threats and dangers, the continuation of which will become a factor in their poverty and backwardness.
In order to prevent and combat these challenges, states cannot reach the final goal alone or in isolation. Therefore, efforts and combat against threats and dangers among all these countries must be carried out collectively in order to achieve their ultimate goal and goal. Because unrest in the South Asian region can spread to other regions, including Central Asia, and become a major threat. As conflicts and wars escalate, the activities of rogue groups in the region also increase.
Tajikistan, as a country of peace, harmony and friendship, has consistently provided useful advice and guidance to achieve the goal of integration and cooperation between countries, including India and Pakistan, and has strengthened its cooperation with all countries, especially in Asia, and has jointly fought to prevent undesirable developments in society.
Despite the intrigues and provocations, there are peaceful ways, and India must refrain from escalating tensions and renegotiate the water-related agreement. Both India and Pakistan must publicly promise that they will resolve their differences through peaceful means and consultations, not through the use of force. For the sake of regional stability, both sides must recognize how the media is playing a role against them and how to prevent this undesirable behavior.
Respect for the principles of good neighborliness and regional integration can reduce tensions between Pakistan and India, and both countries need to use the peace and constructive model, or in other words, the PEACE formula of Tajikistan, to conduct timely negotiations, resolve issues, and turn the region into the most advanced region in the world.
Peace, friendship, and neighborliness bring prosperity,
Dialogue and consultations are key to resolving the conflicts between India and Pakistan, and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields will benefit the people of the region and will be a factor in development and progress. Thus, Pakistan and India, as active members of the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, have an obligation and duty to resolve their conflicts through wisdom and negotiations, and to play a greater and better role as important countries in the region and beyond for the prosperity of people around the world.
*Mirsaid Rahmonov is a senior research analyst at the Institute of Asian and European Studies, Tajikistan.*
Mirsaid Rahmonov
Mirsaid Rahmonov is a Senior Research Analyst at the Institute of Asian and European Studies, Tajikistan.
