DUSHANBE, September 3, 2012, Asia-Plus — On September 1 and 2, President Emomali Rahmon was in Goa during his state visit t India, the Tajik president’s official reports.
On September 2, President Rahmon met with Goa governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo. Issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and this Indian state were reportedly a major topic of the meeting.
Mining, processing of farm produce, pharmaceutics, industry, tourism, culture and science were outlined as areas of which could drive the bilateral trade between the two countries.
Today President Rahmon is visiting New Delhi to hold talks with high-ranking Indian state officials.
Meanwhile,
Goa News
reported on September 2 that President Rahmon met Goa governor V B Wanchoo along with chief minister Manohar Parrikar, opposition leader Pratapsing Rane and Speaker Rajendra Arlekar.
While appreciating India’s development in the field of infrastructure, Tajik president was reportedly expecting India to develop Tajikistan in infrastructural development. Rahmon has also expressed his desire to chalk out a common strategy to fight terrorism while calling India a ‘reliable partner’ in this area,
Goa News
says.
Governor Wanchoo responded positively, stating that Goa would like to welcome tourists form Tajikistan by establishing direct air link. He also said India is eagerly looking forward to enhanced cooperation in developing Information Technology, in which India has made immense progress, apart from the medical field.
Herald
reports President Rahmon is accompanied by a 33 member official delegation. These include the minister of foreign affairs, minister for energy and industry, minister for education, and other ministers for health, culture, and justice. Others include the president of the academy of sciences, head of committee on youth affairs, sports and tourism.
DefenceNow
reports Tajik President Emomali Rahmon arrived in India to foster greater Defence ties build diplomatic relations. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will reportedly hold a range of discussions with the Tajik president including the ‘Connect Central Asia’ policy.
Regarding the issues that will be up for discussions between Tajik President and the Indian PM, these will include Indian assistance for upgrading the Ayni base and setting up a military hospital in Tajikistan among other things, Defence Now said, noting that India’s role was pivotal in developing the Ayni airbase and it continues to cooperate with Tajik authorities in maintaining it.
This is the Tajik leader’s fifth visit to India and it coincides with the 20th anniversary if establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
According to sources, India is expected to propose a substantial development assistance package for the Tajikistan at the end of the talks with the President. Tajikistan is extremely rich in hydro-carbon and India’s ‘Connect Central Asia policy’ which aims to expand ties with the energy-rich Central Asian nations like Tajikistan and others, DefenceNow reports.
India and Tajikistan will be looking to expand their counter-terror cooperation and intensify consultations on the evolving situation in Afghanistan. India and Tajikistan have partnered in the Northern Alliance that played a major role in ousting the Taliban regime out. At present, the two nations are reportedly set to intensify their collaboration to prevent terrorism. Tajikistan shares over 1,400 km border with Afghanistan and is under constant threat from Taliban-linked terror groups like Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan,
DefenceNow
said.
