ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday stressed the need to improve defence ties with Tajikistan, as the two countries signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in various sectors, including the sale of Pakistan-manufactured arms to the Central Asian country.
The MoUs were signed on the occasion of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon’s visit to Pakistan, who earlier arrived in Islamabad on a two-day visit and was received at the Prime Minister House where he was given a guard of honor.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office with the Tajik president after their one-on-one meeting and a ceremony where various MOUs were signed, the premier said: “It is very important to improve our defence ties”.
He added that the two leaders had also “discussed and signed MoUs on how to meet Tajikistan’s requirement for the kind of weapons that Pakistan makes.”
The prime minister said that in his meeting with the Tajik president, they had discussed a range of topics and the chambers of the two countries had signed agreements that would improve “our trade ties”.
Talking on Afghanistan, Imran Khan said that peace in Afghanistan is inevitable for trade with Tajikistan. Pakistan wants political stability in Afghanistan along with withdrawal of United States (US) forces, he added.
Meanwhile, Tajik president has expressed will to boost ties with Pakistan.
Earlier in the day, a formal welcome ceremony in honor of visiting President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon was held at the PM House in Islamabad.
On arrival at the PM House, Prime Minister Imran Khan received the visiting dignitary. A smartly turned out contingent of the armed forces presented guard of honor to the Tajik President. National anthems of both the countries were also played on the occasion.
The Tajik president also planted a sapling in the PM House under Billion Tree Tsunami drive.
It is to be mentioned here that Tajik president had arrived in Pakistan on a two-day visit. Federal Minister Khusro Bakhtiyar received him at Nur Khan Airbase.
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