Tajikistan welcomes India's interest as partner in trade pact

Tajikistan today welcomed India's interest in becoming the fourth partner in Pakistan- Afghanistan-Tajikistan trade and transit agreement, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the landlocked central Asian country will lend "new impetus" to the bilateral ties.
The remarks by visiting Tajikistan Foreign Minister Aslov Sirojidin Muhridinovich came days within Modi conveying India's readiness to join the pact to Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani during his recent visit here.
"We are very happy that Ashraf Ghani discussed this with the authorities in India during his visit here, the implementation or signing of this trade agreement... We have the draft of this trade agreement ready but unfortunately we did not sign...However, in all of these levels, the agreements were discussed and considered, and there is some small issue on the trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"And, we hope soon they will find the decision and then this trade will work fully for the three countries and we will be very happy if India also in future will be part of this trade agreement, which will make trade cooperation easy among the three countries and India," the visiting minister said.
The Tajikistan leader is currently in India on a five-day visit, his first to the country, after assuming the charge, during which he will hold talks with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
"Our diplomatic relations began in 1992 and India and Tajikistan have signed 59 bilateral documents in various areas so far...We believe that Modi's visit to our country will lend new impetus and enhance our bilateral relationships, and will make India's presence in Tajikistan more active," he said while delivering the 17th Sapru House Lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs here.

The visiting dignitary also said that Tajikistan by virtue of its geography was an "intersection of various geo-political interests" and that the landlocked nation "appreciates India's role" in maintaining security in the central Asian region.

"We have bilateral cooperation with India on various security issues... And, India support some of our military and security activities," he said.
Muhridinovich said that Tajikistan was interested in "raising our relation in trade and economy to strategic level."
"Presence of India in Tajikistan is seen positive, however in terms of investment our co-operation is not as it could be...One of our important economic foreign policies is developing trade with India...We indeed are interested in raising our relation in trade and economy to strategic level..Like positive co-operation in pharmaceutical industries.