DUHANBE, March 27, 2014, Asia-Plus — Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday met in Kabul with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, the sides discussed a broad range of issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between their countries.
On the upcoming presidential election in Afghanistan, President Rahmon reportedly noted that Tajikistan considered that Afghanistan itself must decide its fate.
“We hope that the upcoming election will promote further strengthening of your statehood,” Tajik leader was quoted as saying.
Six new cooperation documents were signed after negotiations, including a joint statement of Tajikistan and Afghanistan on further expansion of bilateral relations, an agreement between the interior ministries of the two countries, a government-to-government agreement on cooperation in the sphere of customs control, a government-to-government agreement on mutual encouragement and protection of investments, a government-to-government agreement on cooperation in the sphere of cultural, art, printing and graphic products, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between Tajikistan’s Committee for TV and Radio-broadcasting and Afghanistan’s National TV and Radio.
Yesterday afternoon, Tajik President also met with Afghan Minister of Finance, Dr. Omar Zakhilwal. The two discussed the Central Asia and South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA 1000) and construction of a rail link connecting Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
Wednesday evening, Tajik leader also met with Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, Speaker of the Lower House of the Afghan Parliament. They reportedly discussed issues related to inter-parliamentary cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
