Foreign Secretary receives Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic

Islamabad: Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood welcomed Artykbaev Aibek Muhtarovich, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, today. Deputy Foreign Minister Muhtarovich is visiting Islamabad to chair the 2nd Session of the Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) between Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Foreign Secretary reiterated that Pakistan attaches high importance to its cordial and friendly ties with the Kyrgyz Republic. Noting that the two countries were celebrating 30 years of the establishment of their diplomatic ties, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to further enhance economic, trade,investment, and people-to-people linkages. In this regard, he emphasized the five planks of Pakistan’s“Vision Central Asia,” focused on political, trade and investment, energy and connectivity, security and defence, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Foreign Secretary underlined the importance of regular high-level political engagement for maintaining the positive momentum in the relationship. He hoped that the 2nd Session of the Pakistan-Kyrgyz BPC would help build on the existing level of cooperation between the two countries as well as open new avenues for mutually beneficial collaboration.

Sharing Pakistan’s perspective on the situation in Afghanistan, the Foreign Secretary said that practical cooperation between the Afghan interim authoritiesand the international community was in the interest of regional peace and stability. There was an urgent needto assist the Afghan people in addressing the dire humanitarian and economic crises confronting their country.

During his stay in Islamabad, the Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs would also be engaging with other political leaders, dignitaries, and members of the business community.