Islamabad, Feb 7: The Institute of Regional Studies Islamabad (IRSI), led by President Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, recently organized the 2025 Central Asia/Pakistan/Azerbaijan (CAPA) Ambassadorial Dialogue on Regional Connectivity. The roundtable discussion brought together ambassadors from four Central Asian states and Azerbaijan to explore regional cooperation and connectivity.
The event, held in Islamabad, was graced by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, who served as the chief guest and keynote speaker. Other notable participants included H.E. Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan; H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan; H.E. Mr. Sharifzoda Yusuf, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan; H.E. Mr. Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps; and H.E. Mr. Alisher Tukhtaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan.
The discussions focused on the long-standing cultural, religious, and linguistic ties between Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Central Asian states, grounded in mutual trust and strategic alignment on regional issues. The dialogue highlighted the shared commitment towards global peace, harmony, and regional development.
Ambassadors emphasized the importance of expanding political, economic, and environmental cooperation, especially in light of emerging global challenges such as increasing polarization and economic instability. While the relationship between these nations has flourished in multilateral forums like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, there is a need for more focused collaboration to ensure localized prosperity, with an emphasis on leveraging their strategic geographical positions for sustainable development.
The dialogue underscored the necessity of deepening multilateral exchanges to enhance regional connectivity, fostering long-term peace and growth in the Central Asian-Pakistan-Azerbaijan nexus.
