A Step Forward in Uzbekistan-Pakistan Relations.

Byline: Muhammad Asif Noor

Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of Uzbekistan recently had first virtual summit recently in a bid to build bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors. Both leaders met on the sidelines of the 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of States of SCO member states in Bishkek 2019 and later during the BRI Forum in Beijing again in 2019. Due to the threatening surge in COVID-19 in the region, instead of visit, this special arrangements was made to speed the process of collaboration and actions on the matters of bilateral nature. This high level virtual summit was culmination of the series of important consultation held recently between the high officials from both sides. Recently Foreign Minister Kamilov of Uzbekistan was in Islamabad for bilateral consultation were held with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Later the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Mr. Razzak Dawood made a visit to Tashkent to finalize the collaboration on trade, commerce and investment including finalizing the discussions especially on Trans-Afghan Railway project that was recently agreed by Pakistan initiated by Uzbekistan. This is a significant development in fostering forward the opportunities to build trade, economic and people to people contacts. Even prior to these territory level of meetings, there were several rounds on finalizing the modalities for deliberations at the level of officers and important bureaucratic structures.

During this Summit between both leaders, there were discussion and agreement on finalizing the mutually agreed areas of work especially in the political dimension, trade, security, defense and educational and cultural domains. Important agreement have been inked during this meeting including mutual cooperation in the defense cooperation, conformity assessment of products, standardization, metrology and technical assistance and significantly agriculture cooperation. Through the strong bonds of the past three decades of diplomatic relationship, these bilateral dialogues of high levels and also on the sidelines of international and regional meetings, have helped the warmth to continue.

During this virtual meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had discussion in the candid and friendly manner underscored not only bilateral but also the multilateral issues also. There was discussions on the rise in the extremism especially the Islamophobia in...