TAJIKISTAN AND PAKISTAN: CURRENT STATE, OPPORTUNITIES AND NEW HORIZONS OF COOPERATION

The Republic of Tajikistan conducts its foreign policy in accordance with the principles of “peacefully foreign policy”, which originates from the Constitution of the country, and in accordance with the principle of “open door policy”, observing and implementing all the principles of international law in cooperation with other countries. In this regard, the cooperation of the Republic of Tajikistan with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is carried out within the framework of these principles, as well as cultural and civilizational commonality. Cooperation between the two countries is carried out depending on the specific realities, their place in international relations.

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan plays an important role in regional and global politics due to its geographical position. This country is located at the crossroads of the main sea and land transit routes between the Middle East and South Asia, serving as a bridge between the Arabian Sea and the energy-rich regions of Central Asia.

Pakistan’s cooperation with the Central Asian republics (especially Tajikistan) began after the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, and has aroused special interest in the prospect of restoring relations with the Muslim countries of the region. Pakistan provides Central Asian states with access to the oceans. This geographical advantage is complemented by a well-developed transport and communication network and the ability to use world-class ports in Karachi, Qasim and Gwadar. Pakistani products are also highly competitive in the Central Asian market. With safe and accessible transit, Pakistan gains a new market and, at the same time, a source of energy resources, the constant shortage of which negatively affects the country’s development. Central Asia is strategically significant for Pakistan because of strategic geographical location and resources potential.

Multilateral cooperation is also intended to strengthen these relations. Pakistan’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization provides the country to establish a regular dialogue with the governments of the Central Asian republics, to promote cooperation and exchange of views for better mutual understanding. In this context, the participation of Pakistan and the Central Asian countries in China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative can be considered. Pakistan, as member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, serves as a strategic link between South Asia and the countries of Central Asia. The main goals of this cooperation are the establishment of transit corridors, ensuring regional security (fighting terrorism), and expanding trade and economic ties.

Pakistan is striving to become a key transit bridge between Central Asia and the Indian Ocean. This situation will provides the countries of the region, especially the Republic of Tajikistan, to gain access to ports and open waters.

Bilateral relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan began in early 1991 trough the official recognition of both states, diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 6, 1992, and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Dushanbe began operating in 1993 and the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Islamabad in 1994.

Bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is developing steadily with mutual efforts. Over the years, relations have been developing and strengthening with official and state visits of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Prime Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of Tajikistan

Pakistan-Tajikistan relations are an important factor in stability in Central and South Asia, directed to the development of transit routes, energy projects (e.g. CASA-1000) and the fight against regional threats. Despite the fact that the countries are geographically separated by the narrow Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan, Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of the Republic of Tajikistan, and since then the two countries have maintained close political dialogue at the highest level. Their communication is often focused on the situation in Afghanistan and the mechanism for ensuring security. As neighboring countries, they are interested in transit routes: Pakistan seeks access to Central Asian markets and further to Russia through Tajikistan, while Tajikistan is interested in access to the Pakistani ports of Karachi and Gwadar to expand its international trade.

The most important aspects of mutual cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan in various formats of cooperation as bilateral, multilateral, within the framework of organizations are as follows:

• The countries establish cooperation within the framework of the UN, SCO, OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation), EEC (Economic Cooperation Organization), and the Conference on Cooperation and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
• ​​The main goal of cooperation in the field of security is the fight against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and other global threats.

In 2022, the parties signed an agreement on cooperation in combating trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors.

• The countries plan to expand ties in the fields of trade, investment, transport, energy, various sectors, including light and food industry, mining and processing of minerals and agriculture.
• Tajikistan is interested in stable and long-term cooperation with Pakistan. Agreements on scientific cooperation between the National academy of sciences of Tajikistan and the Academy of sciences of Pakistan, as well as a agreement between the National University of Tajikistan and the University of Punjab, were signed.

In his Address to the Majlisi Oli, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan E. Rahmon stated in 2012: “Our constructive foreign policy, aimed at broad and extensive cooperation, should in general fulfill its traditional task of comprehensive assistance to the sustainable development of the country, ensuring security and tranquility of the country and a decent standard of living for its people, ensuring a prosperous future for Tajikistan.” This aspect is the axis of Tajikistan’s relations with all countries of the world, including Pakistan.

The foreign policy perspective of the Republic of Tajikistan in relations with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is indicated in paragraph 3.1.- of the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Republic of Tajikistan as follows: “For the Republic of Tajikistan, strengthening political relations and expanding beneficial multifaceted cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, taking into account its trade and economic opportunities and geostrategic position, is of particular importance.”

The Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, while speaking at a press conference after talks with the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, in 2022, said: “Cultural and humanitarian ties, taking into account the close cultural traditions and many civilizational commonalities of the peoples of the two brotherly countries, are one of the important factors in bilateral relations.”

Pakistan, as a large and important part of the Indian subcontinent, has been a large area of ​​Persian language and literature for more than a thousand years, sheltering and nurturing thousands of poets and writers in this language. Pakistan’s national identity is inseparable from the Urdu language, and this language is inextricably linked to Persian, and approximately sixty percent of the Urdu vocabulary is Persian. Millions of Tajiks and Tajik-Persian speakers live in this country, and in addition, due to the importance of the Persian-Tajik language, Persian is studied in Pakistani universities. Pakistan also shares borders with two Persian-speaking countries, Iran and Afghanistan, which is a good thing in the Persian-speaking region. Thus, it is fair to say that the Persian-Tajik language and culture have deep and historical ties with Pakistan.

In connection with this article, one of the most important factors that connects Tajikistan with Pakistan is the historical and cultural commonality of these peoples. Here, it is worth noting the role of the Persian-Tajik culture and language, which was developed in the land of Pakistan by various thinkers. In this regard, the place of Iqbal Lahore in the preservation and development of the Persian-Tajik language is very great, and this poet still holds a special place in the sphere of Persian culture. Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938) was one of the famouse poets, thinkers and cultural figures who made a significant contribution to the development of the Persian language and its literature. His works and ideas have influenced the cultural and intellectual development of the region, especially in South Asia. Allama Muhammad Iqbal indeed made a significant contribution to the revival and development of the Persian language. His creative work and linguistic inquiries played an important role in preserving and enriching the Persian literary tradition, particularly within the context of philosophical and religious thought. By composing more than 60 percent of his poems in Persian and expressing his philosophical ideas, he established the language as a tool for the unity and awakening of Muslims around the world.

The place of the Persian-Tajik language in Pakistan is proven by other evidence, although for more than a few decades, English has had a greater advantage. The national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is in Persian-Tajik. For this reason, it would be said that the influence of this global language has not yet diminished in the region. This song was written in 1952 and belongs by poet Hafeez Jalandhari (1900-1982). The fact that the national anthem of Pakistan sounds in Tajik is a source of special pride for Tajik-speaking people. This situation is undoubtedly worthy of special respect, since it is an symbol of Persian-Tajik culture.

In terms of the potential and especially the cultural opportunities of bringing cultural relations between Tajikistan and Pakistan to a qualitatively new level, the development of the Tajik language as a special tribute to Allama Iqbal and the use of the teachings of this thinker as the language of philosophy and science, a deep understanding of his works, and the holding of scientific events with the participation of representatives of Pakistan and Tajikistan are in the interests of the parties. To the extent that the parties are interested in economic and security cooperation, in the conditions of cultural globalization and spiritual crisis, the use of the works of Persian and Tajik thinkers, such as Iqbāl-e Lāhorī, is the need of the hour. The use of such cultural and civilizational potential leads to the formation of a great cultural dialogue and the preservation of cultural and historical monuments.

In connection with these potentials, the development of interstate cooperation leads to the creation of new horizons and forms new bilateral relations. Attention to interstate cooperation in all areas, respect and support for mutual initiatives at the regional and global levels leads to the strengthening of relations. Continuing interstate relations at the bilateral and multilateral levels within the framework of various organizations to achieve the happiness of both friendly peoples is in direction foreign policy goals of Tajikistan and Pakistan.

Nazriev Karim,

Deputy head of the Department for analysis and forecasting of domestic policy of the Center for strategic research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan