On Saturday February 18, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, the two sides discussed state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
More than 80 cooperation documents have been signed between the two countries in the fields of politics, economics, culture, education and science over the past twenty-five years.
Rahmon and Rabbani reportedly expressed readiness for expansion of regional cooperation, including implementation of large regional projects aimed at constructing rail links connecting the two countries and power transmission lines.
They also exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in combating international terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking as well as strengthening border control, according to the president’s website.
Meanwhile, citing a statement released by the Afghan MFA, The Kabul Times reports that the President of Tajikistan pointed out numerous common opportunities in the region for mutual economic cooperation, calling peace, stability, and economic welfare in Afghanistan very valuable for his country and expressed his assurance that Tajikistan would stay committed to continuing good relationship and fruitful cooperation with Afghanistan.
Expressing appreciation for the opportunity to meet the president of Tajikistan, Foreign Minister Rabbani reportedly briefed Tajik President on political and security situation, the recent progress made in Afghanistan, future priorities of the government in various fields like the Peace Process, and achievements of the Afghan Security and Defense Forces in the fight against terrorism, the statement noted.
FM Rabbani emphasized that Afghanistan is very interested in extensive cooperation with Tajikistan in different fields like economic convergence; connecting the region through transiting energy; and fighting against common concerns, challenges, and threats.
After the meeting, Foreign Minister Rabbani addressed a media gathering on achievements of his official trip to Tajikistan, according to The Kabul Times.
Salahuddin Rabbani arrived in Dushanbe on an official visit on February 16. While in Dushanbe, he also held talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Aslov and the speaker of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament Shukurjon Zuhurov.
Salahuddin Rabbani (born May 10, 1971) is an Afghan diplomat and politician who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan since February 1, 2015. He was Ambassador to Turkey from 2011 to 2012. In April 2012, it was announced that he was to chair the Afghan High Peace Council in its negotiations with the Taliban. Salahuddin's father was Council chairman and Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani.
He was selected as leader of the Jamiat-e Islami political party after the assassination of his father. On January 12, 2015, he was nominated by President Ashraf Ghani as Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Ahmad Moqbel Zarar. He was confirmed by the Afghan Parliament on 28 January and was sworn in on February 1, 2015.
