Central Asian states have developed their relations with regional and global powers within the framework of a win-win approach on various issues thanks to their multi-faceted and multi-vectored foreign policies. The Western World, China and Russia are the prominent actors in this regard. However, despite the proximity of the South Asian states to Central Asia, relations have remained limited due to geographical difficulties, foreign interference in the region and security issues.
Despite the negative factors, various steps of rapprochement between the Central and South Asian states have been taken in the last few years. Because Central Asian states have different characteristics and identities, it is easier for them to establish common bonds with different actors in South Asia. For example, it influences Pakistan, which has a high religious sensitivity due to its Muslim population, and India thanks to its secular governance approach. However, the peaceful and constructive foreign policies of the Central Asian states are important for all states.
As Central Asian governments develop relations with South Asian states, Pakistan is one of the prominent actors. Astana, Ashgabat, Bishkek, Dushanbe and Tashkent have recently established important contacts and relations with Islamabad. First, Zhumangarin Serik, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, visited Islamabad on December 22, 2022.
During the visit, the parties signed nine documents, including six memoranda on the supply of goods to Kazakhstan. They also discussed trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation, overland transit of Pakistan’s logistics company National Logistic Cell (NLC) to Kazakhstan via Afghanistan and the launch of regular flights to Pakistan by Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines.[1] Zhumangarin also met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to discuss participation in the construction of the Trans-Afghan Corridor.[2] In his statement on the meeting, Sharif emphasized that the road and railroad would not only ensure commercial cooperation but also establish peace and prosperity in the region.[3]
The Bishkek administration is also taking an important step to improve relations with Islamabad. In January 2022, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Sardar Azhar Tariq Khan emphasized that the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries is crucial for regional and global trade integration.[4] Kyrgyzstan advocates a geographical link with Pakistan to strengthen ties and calls for the extension of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Line to Pakistan.[5] Because the relationship with Pakistan will create an important opportunity for both Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia to reach the seas. In addition, a Kyrgyz Republic Trade House was opened in Lahore, Pakistan to improve trade relations between the states.[6]
What is noteworthy at this point is that Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan contacted the Taliban for the first time through official delegations.[7] Although various issues were discussed during the talks, the main goal of the Astana and Bishkek administrations is to ensure that Afghanistan is not ignored in the process of opening up to South Asia and the seas, and to eliminate possible obstacles to the construction of the Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor.
Uzbekistan is one of the main architects and supporters of the Trans-Afghan Corridor with Pakistan. For this purpose, various meetings are held. Because in 2023, various contacts will be made for the financing of this line. Recently, new agreements were signed between Tashkent and Islamabad. In this context, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment of Uzbekistan Khodjaev Jamshid Abdukhakimovich and Minister of Commerce of Pakistan Naveed Qamar signed nine memorandums of understanding. The aim is to establish bilateral cooperation and increase the trade volume to 1 billion dollars. The parties also agreed to implement the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) from February 2023.[8]
The parties also agreed to meet with the Taliban to resolve the problems faced by Pakistani and Uzbek transporters. Uzbek and Pakistani officials will visit Kabul, probably in January 2023, after Tashkent and Islamabad have agreed on a joint agenda to be presented to the Taliban.[9]
Tajikistan is among the states that have recently become closer to Pakistan. At this point, the highest level visit to Pakistan was made from this country. During the visit on December 14-15, 2022, several agreements were signed between Tajik President Imamali Rahman and Sharif. Stating that he attaches great importance to relations with Tajikistan, Sharif said that he wants to establish energy, rail and road connections with the Central Asian region rich in energy resources for the development and prosperity of the entire region. Rahman, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the security cooperation and proposed to jointly tackle current challenges such as extremism, terrorism and radicalism.[10]
Energy-centered developments are also noteworthy in Turkmenistan-Pakistan relations. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Petroleum Affairs Musadik Masood Malik visited Ashgabat. Projects such as TAPI and TAP were discussed.[11] On November 11, 2022, Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Atadjan Movlamov emphasized in a statement that Turkmenistan can meet Pakistan’s energy needs.[12]
In conclusion, relations between Central Asian states and Pakistan are being strengthened in a multifaceted and multidimensional manner through issues such as economy, food, energy and security. Implementation of the Trans-Afghan Corridor is critical to accelerate and further strengthen relations. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are also participating in this process, with Uzbekistan playing the leading role. Thus, Pakistan will be able to open up to the north, namely Central Asia, through the corridor, while the Central Asian states will be able to reach the sea. At this point, the corridor to be established between the parties will both include Afghanistan in regional cooperation and make a significant contribution to the process of resolving the crises in the country. The relations thus established between the parties will maximize national, regional and inter-regional gains.
[1] “Pakistan, Kazakhstan Agree to Enhance Cooperation at Intergovernmental Commission in Islamabad”, The Astana Times, https://astanatimes.com/2022/12/pakistan-kazakhstan-agree-to-enhance-cooperation-at-intergovernmental-commission-in-islamabad/, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[2] “Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Discussing Trans-Uzbek-Afghan Railway Routes to Arabian Sea”, Silk Road Briefing, https://www.silkroadbriefing.com/news/2022/12/26/kazakhstan-pakistan-discussing-trans-uzbek-afghan-railway-routes-to-arabian-sea/, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[3] “Road, Railway Linkage with CARs to Promote Peace: PM”, Pakistan Observer, https://pakobserver.net/road-railway-linkage-with-cars-to-promote-peace-pm/, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[4] “Pakistan Seeks Better Economic Ties with Kyrgyzstan”, The Express Tribune, https://tribune.com.pk/story/2340142/pakistan-seeks-better-economic-ties-with-kyrgyzstan, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[5] “‘China-Central Asia Rail Project Should be Extended to Peshawar’”, The Express Tribune, https://tribune.com.pk/story/2391931/china-central-asia-rail-project-should-be-extended-to-peshawar, (Date of Accession: 20.12.2022).
[6] “Trade House of Kyrgyzstan Opened in Pakistan”, Kabar, http://en.kabar.kg/news/trade-house-of-kyrgyzstan-opened-in-pakistan/, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[7] Bruce Pannier, “Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Open Channels with the Taliban”, RFE/RL, https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-kyrgyzstan-taliban/31487601.html, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[8] “Nine MoUs signed with Uzbekistan”, Dawn, https://www.dawn.com/news/1728431/nine-mous-signed-with-uzbekistan, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[9] “Road, Railway Linkage…”, op. cit.
[10] “Pakistan Aspires to ‘Establish Energy, Road Links with Central Asia’”, International The News, https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1020032-pakistan-aspires-to-establish-energy-road-links-with-central-asia, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[11] “Turkmen President, Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Discuss Construction of TAPI Pipeline”, Business Turkmenistan, https://business.com.tm/post/9183/prezident-turkmenistana-i-ministr-nefti-pakistana-obsudili-stroitelstvo-gazoprovoda-tapi, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[12] “Turkmenistan Offers Assistance in Meeting Growing Energy Needs of Pakistan”, Business Turkmenistan, https://business.com.tm/post/9419/turkmenistan-pakistan%C4%B1n-elektrik-enerjisi-ve-do%C4%9Falgaz-talebini-karsh%C4%B1layabilir, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
