He said he would try to convince the Afghan Taliban as there were concerns about the situation in Panjshir.

The premier was addressing a joint press conference along with Tajikistan's President Emomali Rehman in Dushanbe.

Imran Khan said Pakistan and Tajikistan wanted the issue in the valley to be resolved through talks.

"We cannot dictate Afghanistan but urge them as friends to resolve the {Panjshir} issue through dialogue and also open the blockade for humanitarian aid," Khan said, adding situation in Afghanistan had two ways with one leading to peace or it can to a nightmare scenario of conflict, humanitarian crisis and instability.

The prime minister said that three terrorist groups had been using Afghan soil to launch terrorist attacks in Pakistan, adding, stability in Afghanistan was in everyone’s interest.

About bilateral relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan, Imran Khan said the two sides held wide-ranging talks for strengthening cooperation in diverse fields including trade and connectivity besides discussing ways and means to enhance bilateral trade of goods including textile, pharmaceutical etc.

The premier congratulated President Emomali Rahmon for successfully hosting 20th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of States. He also thanked the President of Tajikistan for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to the Pakistan delegation during the visit.

“We have seen the development, buildings and greenery. I think you [Tajik President] have a passion for development. We are impressed,” he remarked.

Tajik President Emomali Rehman said he would use his influence in bringing the Tajik leadership of Afghanistan to the negotiating table to resolve their differences peacefully.

He said that peace in Afghanistan is in the interest of not only Pakistan and Tajikistan but also the entire region.

Ties to “long-term strategic partnership” level agreed

Pakistan and Tajikistan, building on the previous understandings and given the strong desire of two countries to further promote mutual cooperation in diverse areas, have decided to upgrade the bilateral relations to the level of a long-term strategic partnership.

The decision was taken during the two-day (September 15-17) official visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Tajikistan on the invitation of President Emomali Rahmon.

According to a joint statement issued at the conclusion of Imran Khan’s visit, the two leaders had wide-ranging deliberations covering all aspects of the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation, and regional and international issues of common interest during the tete-a-tete and delegation-level talks.

 Prime Minister Imran Khan also participated in the Jubilee Summit of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) besides his official visit.

He commended President Emomali Rahmon for hosting the Jubilee Summit of the Council of Heads of State of SCO and other events in Dushanbe during the SCO Chairmanship of Republic of Tajikistan.

Both leaders agreed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan in 2022 in a befitting manner.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the growing mutually beneficial political, trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

They underscored the importance of following Joint Statement/Declarations signed earlier: Joint Statement “Towards Strategic Partnership for Regional Solidarity” between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan signed on 5 July 2017; the Joint Declaration “Strengthening the Pathway to Strategic Partnership for Regional Solidarity” between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan signed on 19 June 2018; and the Joint Declaration on “Next Steps to Build Strategic Partnership for Regional Solidarity and Integration” of 2 June 2021.

Agreements, MOUs inked for cooperation in diverse fields

Pakistan and Tajikistan Friday signed various agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for cooperation in diverse areas including trade, investment, banking, tourism, information and broadcasting etc.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Emomali Rahmon witnessed the signing of documents at a ceremony held here at Qasr-e-Millat after holding one-on-one meeting and delegation level talks.  

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Advisor to PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawiood and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Dushanbe Imran Haider and their counterparts from Tajikistan signed the documents on behalf of their respective countries.

Following is the detail of agreements and MOUs:

1) MOU of Mutual Cooperation for Archives and Libraries Development between the Government of Pakistan and Tajikistan.

2) Protocol to Amend the Existing Convention between Pakistan and Tajikistan for Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income.

 3) MOU for Cooperation in Industrial Property between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and IPO of Pakistan.

4)  MOU between Financial Monitoring Department under the National Bank of Tajikistan and Financial Monitoring Unit of Pakistan concerning cooperation in the exchange of financial intelligence related to money laundering-related predicate offences and financing of terrorism.

 5) MOU between the National Bank of Tajikistan and State Bank of Pakistan on Supervisory Cooperation.

 6) MOU on Cooperation between the National Information Agency of Tajikistan “Khovar” and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

7)  MOU between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for Cooperation in the Sphere of Tourism, Hospitality and Investment in the Tourism Sector.

 8)  Action Plan for the year 2022 on the Implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Cooperation in the field of Physical Training and Sports.