Pakistan Relation with Central Asian countries gained momentum after the dissolution of Soviet Union in 1991. Till the 1991 CARS countries were administered by the Soviet Union – a socialist bloc which was working directly against Capitalist bloc- was headed by America. Central Asia is comprised of five states namely, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. These states after their independence maintained relation with Pakistan both in economically and strategically. The intensity of their relationship with Pakistan got height after the regulation of C-PEC. China along with Pakistan with a view to extending its trade with world countries mapped a road to the whole of central Asia. Below is the detail of Pakistan relation with CARS countries and their mutual Accords conducted recently.
Pakistan Relation With Central Asian Countries
Kazakhstan:
Recognizing Kazakhstan on 20 Dec 1991 Pakistan maintained diplomatic relation with this central Asian state. On 24 Feb 1992 president of Kazakhstan visited officially to the Pakistan and relation of both countries strengthened further. As Noor ul Sultan president of Kazakhstan mentioned that we cannot forget Pakistan as it recognized them first. Kazakhstan is a country rich in natural resources particularly oil and gas. Additionally, its market has good space for Pakistan goods. Pakistan needs to reorganize its relation with Kazakhstan with a view to delivering goods in its markets.
Kyrgyzstan:
With Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan relation was established after the demolishment of Soviet. But official relation was started on 10 may, 1992. After that government of both sides could not establish practical Accords, till the beginning of China Pakistan economic corridor. In 2017, Pakistan former prime minister during his stay at Bishkek signed two important agreement to cooperate on disaster management and Anti-Narcotics.
Uzbekistan:
Uzbekistan relation with Pakistan formally started just after the disbanding of Soviet Union. Both Pakistan and Uzbekistan are members of various world organizations such as SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization). Recently seeing the importance of economic corridor for both countries both have signed various Accords in various fields such as on tackling terrorism and peace issues in the region. Moreover, both countries are seemed interested in launching bilateral trade.
Tajikistan:
Between Pakistan and Tajikistan relation established after the collapse of USSR. Trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan got momentum in 2008 when the ambassador of Tajikistan announced to export electricity from Pakistan. QTTA (was an agreement signed by Pakistan and Central Asian states to promote trade. Tajikistan is expected to be part of it. Tajikistan and Pakistan are connected with each other via Afghanistan. Afghanistan is being stared by India which often threat Pakistan to cut the route to the central Asian countries, keeping in view this prolong threat Pakistan is seeking for an alternative route to approach Tajikistan and other central Asian countries. QTTA (Quadruple transit trade Accord) will allow Tajikistan to be a part of Pakistan- China economic corridor via land route and this will minimize the tariff and taxes on bilateral trade between two countries. Tajikistan seems interested in increasing its trade volume with Pakistan to the 500m$, which was reported to rest at 90m$ in 2016.
Turkmenistan:
Turkmenistan is the last central Asian country by which Pakistan established diplomatic relation after the soviet dismissal. Pakistan was one of the countries which admitted freedom of Turkmenistan first. Celebrating, the 10th anniversary of PAK- Turkmenistan relation Pakistan issued a stamp bearing the flag of Turkmenistan. TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India gas pipeline) was a project of cheap gas to be executed by Turkmenistan but remained unsettled. Recently, Pakistan is doing hard efforts to execute this project quitting India from the project. If such is done, load shedding problem in the country will be reduced to a nominal extent. Through Pak-China economic corridor Pakistan wants to make Turkmenistan a part of this project with a view to enhancing bilateral trade and providing a route to Turkmenistan export via the Indian Ocean.
Hence these are the details about Pakistan relation with central Asian countries. You can imagine that what is the benefits and importance for Pakistan to build their relationship with central Asian countries.