Central Asian countries are increasingly cooperating with Pakistan, leaving decades of common suspicion behind. The visit of Kyrgyz president Sadyr Żaparov to Islamabad highlighted the dynamic improvement of trade, education and energy relations, as well as joint efforts for regional security, including in the context of the situation in Afghanistan.
The visit of Kyrgyz president Sadyr Żaparov to Islamabad on 3-4 December highlighted the fast improvement of cooperation between the 2 countries. This was the first specified visit of the Kyrgyz leader in more than 2 decades and ended with the signing of a series of agreements covering trade, education, tourism, energy and agriculture.
The business forum organised as part of the visit was of large interest to the Pakistani private sector. Although the turnover of bilateral trade in 2024 was only $16 million and remained at a akin level in the first 3 quarters of that year, representatives of both countries set the mark of expanding the yearly volume of trade to $200 million by 2027–2028.
Security was besides an crucial subject of discussion, and peculiar attention was paid to the situation in Afghanistan. Taliban presence in Kabul has ceased to be a origin of divisions and has become a origin in regional cooperation.
For years Kyrgyzstan and another Central Asian countries have been on the strategical side other Pakistan, which has supported the improvement and acquisition of the Taliban movement by itpower in most Afghanistan in the late 1990s. Meanwhile, Central Asian countries supported forces effectively countering the Taliban in northern Afghanistan.
After removing the extremist muslim movement from power as a consequence of the 9/11 bombings, Pakistan played a key function in the eventual Taliban rebellion, which in 2021 overturned the US-backed Republican government in Afghanistan. Currently, in the face of deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Taliban, Central Asian countries find common language with Islamabad.
In IslamabadZaparov and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif confirmed their commitment to peaceful and unchangeable Afghanistan and the sustainable future of its people. "They agreed that the Afghan Taliban government must honour its commitments to the global community" The Pakistani Ministry of abroad Affairs indicated.
President Żaparov's press service reported that both countries would grow their cooperation to counter extremism and cross-border crime linked to Afghanistan. Tajikistan, who has experienced attacks in fresh weeks from Afghan militants operating outside Taliban control, besides engages Pakistan in strengthening safety cooperation and information exchange.
Uzbekistan, the largest trading partnerPakistan in Central Asia is driving regional economical ties. Business contacts increased importantly in the second half of 2025, with officials from both countries aiming to increase bilateral turnover to $2 billion in the coming period. Kazakhstan besides shows increasing interest in Pakistan. Trade with this country increased more than twice in the first 7 months of 2025 compared to the erstwhile year, reaching $90 million. president Kasym-Żomart Tokayev's January visit is intended to strengthen trade cooperation, bringing the goal of achieving yearly turnover of $1 billion.
A key origin in the improvement of trade between Central Asia and Pakistan is the creation of efficient land and rail connections. Countries without access to the sea see Pakistani seaports as a possible gateway to a crucial improvement of global exchange.
In November, Uzbek Railways and Pakistan global Road Transport Chamber signed a cooperation agreement to make trade on 2 major land routes: Pakistan–China–Tajikistan–Uzbekistan and Pakistan–China–Kirgistan–Uzbekistan. These routes are feasible, although they may encounter logistical challenges.
A much more direct and efficient railway way could be through Afghanistan. Uzbek and Pakistani railways analysed the costs and engineering challenges associated with the construction of the Transaphgan railway, but safety considerations inactive limit the task to the concept.
Source: Eurasianet
BIS improvement – survey Bulletin
