Peshawar: His Excellency Mr. Ismatullo Nasredin the ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan visited Area Study Centre for Russia, China & Central Asia, University of Peshawar on 14th June, 2019. H. E. delivered lecture in Interactive Session on “Pak-Tajik Relations: Enhancing Academic Institutional Links” organised by the Area Study Centre University of Peshawar and Centre for Global and Strategic Studies Islamabad jointly. The Director Area Study Centre University of Peshawar received H.E., briefly introduced the Centre and informed about the achievements of the Centre which is the only research cum teaching public sector institution in Pakistan working on Central Asia since 1978. Pro-vice chancellor of the University of Peshawar, Prof. Dr. Johar Ali, Executive Director of CGSS Mr. Taimur Khalid, Deans of Faculties University of Peshawar and other Professors of various departments were also present on the occasion.

H.E. said that it is his first visit to this historical institution and taking a very impressive image with himself from Peshawar. He said that Tajikistan and Pakistan share common views on regional political and economic issues and Tajikistan fully supports Pakistan’s efforts in resolving the Afghan imbroglio. Clash of interests of regional states in Afghanistan harmed relations of regional states during the 1990s however regional countries are now on same page regarding a regional approach to Afghan issue. He said that West doesn’t understand the ground realities in the region and without regional approach sustainable peace will be a distant possibility in Afghanistan. If political agreement reaches in Afghanistan, all other issues will be solved the envoy added.

He furthered that CPEC by-passes the instable Afghanistan for access to and from Central Asia, particularly Pakistan and Tajikistan can utilize the upgraded KKH for enhancing trade through the quadrilateral transit trade agreement which is still underutilised. Kulma pass links Takikistan and Xinjiang which leads towards KKH. Tajikistan is currently using Pakistan’s ports and hopefully the current bilateral trade volume of $62 million can be enhanced to $100 million. Replying to a question, he said that there is no division of religious and contemporary education in Tajikistan as it is here in Pakistan like the Madrassah education and contemporary education in schools, colleges and universities. The Director Area Study Centre added that unfortunately this division occurred here during the British rule which is not only harming but also wasting the human resource by not equipping the youth with both the educations; religious and contemporary/worldly education. The Director Prof. Shabir Khan gave the example of Central Asian Scholars during the 9, 10 and 11 Centuries AD when the Muslims were both at the same time both, religious scholars as well as scientists, mathematicians, astronauts, physicians etc.

The Director Area Study Centre said that Central Asia was the past of Pakistan as Pakistan has been considered as a cultural extension of Central Asia and it is the future of Pakistan particularly in the aftermath of CPEC. Pakistan attaches great significance to its relations with Central Asian Republics (CARs) and similarly there is a growing realization in CARs regarding the important geographical location of Pakistan vis-à-vis the land locked region of Central Asia. There are obvious signs of growing political, strategic and economic relations between Pakistan and Central Asia. The Director Area Study Centre submitted a proposed draft of MoU between the Centre for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar to H.E. the Ambassador of Tajikistan for facilitating the process of signing the document.

Mr. Khalid Taimur, Executive Director of CGSS said that intelligence sharing mechanism is currently main feature of Pak-Tajik bilateral relations. Pakistan has been sending religious scholars for having interaction with the Tajik religious scholars.