President Zardari begins four day visit to Kyrgyzstan to strengthen bilateral ties

President Asif Ali Zardari departed for Kyrgyzstan on Monday on a four day official visit at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.

President Asif Ali Zardari departed for Kyrgyzstan on Monday on a four day official visit at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The visit is being described as an important step in strengthening relations between the two countries and marks the first time in more than two decades that a Pakistani president has travelled to the Central Asian nation on an official visit.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, President Zardari is accompanied by a high level delegation. Officials said the visit reflects the growing momentum in relations between Islamabad and Bishkek following President Japarov’s visit to Pakistan in December last year. They described the exchange of high level visits as a sign of expanding cooperation between the two friendly countries.

During his stay, President Zardari is expected to hold a private meeting with President Japarov followed by delegation level talks. The discussions will cover the full range of bilateral relations as both sides review existing cooperation and explore new opportunities. The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on important regional and international developments that affect both countries.

Trade and economic cooperation will be among the main areas of discussion. Officials said both governments aim to expand collaboration in sectors including investment, energy, mining, agriculture, textiles, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, tourism, education and the digital economy. The two sides will also discuss ways to strengthen people to people contacts and encourage greater cultural and educational exchanges.

As part of the visit, President Zardari is also scheduled to meet Kyrgyz Parliament Speaker Marlen Mamataliev. The meeting is expected to further strengthen parliamentary cooperation and reinforce the broader relationship between the two countries.

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have maintained friendly relations for many years based on shared cultural and historical links as well as common interests in promoting regional peace, economic growth and connectivity. Both countries are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, where they work alongside regional partners including China, Russia, India and Iran on security and economic issues.

Energy cooperation remains another important area of partnership. Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan are participating in the CASA 1000 project along with Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The project is designed to transmit surplus electricity from Central Asia to South Asia and is expected to become operational in early 2027. Kyrgyz leaders have described the initiative as a major step towards creating stronger energy links between the two regions.

Relations between Islamabad and Bishkek have expanded steadily over the past year. During President Japarov’s visit to Pakistan in December 2025, both countries signed 15 agreements covering trade, energy, health and several other sectors. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also offered Kyrgyzstan access to international markets through Pakistan’s ports at Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar to improve regional trade and transport links.

The two countries have also shown growing interest in emerging technologies. Last year they agreed to increase cooperation in cryptocurrency, blockchain technology and digital finance. Earlier, both governments reaffirmed their commitment to raising annual bilateral trade to 100 million dollars through stronger economic collaboration.

Despite these efforts, trade between the two countries remains modest. Pakistan’s exports to Kyrgyzstan reached 3.124 million dollars during the first ten months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, reflecting a slight decline compared with the previous year. Imports from Kyrgyzstan, however, increased to 626000 dollars during the same period. Officials from both countries hope the latest high level talks will help unlock new business opportunities and further strengthen economic ties in the years ahead.