ISLAMABAD: The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, on Friday hosted a high-level curtain-raiser event to discuss the “Action Plan of Cooperation” between Pakistan and Kazakhstan ahead of the first official visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Pakistan in February 2026.

The event, organised under the IRS Central Asia Program for Regional Cooperation and Connectivity, was titled “Understanding the Action Plan of Cooperation Between Astana and Islamabad” and brought together diplomats, scholars and policy experts to review the bilateral roadmap and explore opportunities for strengthening ties between the two countries.

In his opening remarks, IRS President Ambassador Jauhar Saleem welcomed Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin and described President Tokayev’s upcoming visit as a significant milestone in advancing bilateral relations. He said Pakistan and Kazakhstan share strong political ties and cultural links, stressing the need to translate historical bonds into practical, result-oriented cooperation.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Ambassador Kistafin recalled that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise Kazakhstan after its independence in 1991, noting that early high-level exchanges helped shape decades of diplomatic engagement.

He outlined Kazakhstan’s focus on regional connectivity and economic cooperation, highlighting efforts to expand business-to-business engagement, improve trade facilitation and strengthen infrastructure links. The ambassador said Kazakhstan aims to evolve from a “landlocked” to a “land-linked” country by enhancing regional corridors connecting Central Asia with the Middle East, Europe and China.

He also pointed to the Karakoram Highway and potential railway linkages as important routes for improving connectivity between Astana and Islamabad.

Ambassador Kistafin identified several sectors with strong potential for bilateral cooperation, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, finance including Islamic banking, education, tourism, sports, and culture, emphasising that people-to-people engagement remains critical to deepening long-term relations.

He also highlighted shared regional challenges such as security concerns, drug trafficking and language barriers, calling for sustained dialogue and cooperation. The ambassador stressed that youth engagement, cultural exchanges and academic collaboration can serve as key drivers of mutual understanding and regional stability.

A question-and-answer session focused on transportation and railway connectivity, regional security, trade facilitation, defence cooperation and youth engagement, with participants reiterating the importance of peaceful regional relations and enhanced connectivity.

Concluding the event, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem expressed optimism about the future trajectory of Pakistan–Kazakhstan ties and reaffirmed the IRS’s commitment to supporting regional dialogue through its Central Asia Program, led by Hamzah Rifaat. He also welcomed Azerbaijan’s inclusion in broader Central Asian development discussions and reiterated the institute’s guiding principle, “Know thy neighbours.”