By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Noting the strong and robust defence ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday expressed the desire to further expand these brotherly relations with special focus on bilateral trade, tourism and people-to-people contacts.
The prime minister was talking to Minister of Defence of the Republic Azerbaijan Colonel General Zakir Hasanov who called on him.
The prime minister lauded Azerbaijan’s contribution in the OIC, especially as an active member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.
He also congratulated the leadership and people of Azerbaijan on liberation of their occupied territories and appreciated Azerbaijan’s efforts in pursuing the objective of peace and prosperity in South Caucasus.
Minister of defence Hasanov conveyed the greetings from the president of Azerbaijan to the prime minister.
He informed that a contingent of Azerbaijan armed forces will participate in the National Day Parade of Pakistan on 23rd March.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday reiterated his desire to comprehensively upgrade bilateral cooperation with Tajikistan including in the fields of economy, trade, energy, connectivity and investment.
He also elaborated Pakistan’s enhanced engagement with Central Asia under “Vision Central Asia” policy and reiterated commitment for timely completion of CASA-1000 power project. The Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin on the sidelines of 48th Session of OIC-CFM. He also stressed the importance of the early conclusion of a transit trade agreement between the two countries to enhance trade and economic linkages.
He expressed satisfaction on growing bilateral cooperation in all spheres of mutual interest. The prime minister underscored Pakistan’s consistent support for the efforts for sustainable peace and provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Emphasizing the importance of lasting peace and stability in the country for regional prosperity, the prime minister underscored the key role of neighbouring countries in this respect.
He also stressed that a peaceful, stable, prosperous and connected Afghanistan was in everyone’s interest. The prime minister felicitated the Tajik foreign minister on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
He also recalled his official visit to Dushanbe in September 2021 and expressed satisfaction on the implementation of the decisions taken during the visit.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday expressed his deep grief over loss of lives in a passenger plane crash in China and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.
On his Twitter handle, the prime minister posted, “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the passenger plane crash in China. We share the grief of our Chinese brothers and sisters and convey our deepest condolences and sympathies with the bereaved families.”
According to CGTN, a Boeing 737 passenger jetliner with 132 people on board crashed into a mountainous area in southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Monday.
The crashed plane, belonging to China Eastern Airlines, was flying from the southwestern city of Kunming to south China’s Guangzhou City when it lost contact over the city of Wuzhou.
