On February 5–6, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will pay a state visit to Pakistan.

This visit is seen as a logical continuation of the intensified Uzbek-Pakistani dialogue in recent years and, at the same time, as an important step in implementing Uzbekistan’s foreign policy strategy focused on expanding cooperation with South Asian countries. The visit takes place against the backdrop of the formation of a new regional connectivity architecture, in which Central and South Asia are increasingly perceived as complementary regions, united by shared economic interests, historical ties, and civilizational roots.

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Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise Uzbekistan’s independence on December 20, 1991. The establishment of diplomatic relations on May 10, 1992 laid the institutional foundation for bilateral engagement. However, a qualitatively new stage in the development of relations began in recent years, when political dialogue acquired a systematic and strategic character.

A key milestone was the signing of the Joint Declaration on Establishing a Strategic Partnership in July 2021, which formalised the mutual interest of both sides in deepening cooperation across a wide range of areas. In March 2022, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Pakistan confirmed the alignment of strategic approaches between Tashkent and Islamabad on regional development, stabilisation in Afghanistan, and the expansion of economic ties between Central and South Asia.

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Regular contacts between the leaders of both countries at multilateral forums have also played an important role. The SCO Summit in Samarkand in September 2022, meetings within the framework of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), as well as global climate and economic summits, have contributed to the establishment of a trusting and pragmatic dialogue.

The official visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, to Uzbekistan in February 2025 was of particular significance. Following the visit, a Joint Declaration and a Protocol on the Establishment of a High-Level Strategic Partnership Council were signed. The creation of this mechanism provided a stable institutional foundation for Uzbek-Pakistani relations and opened opportunities for systematic coordination of bilateral initiatives and monitoring the implementation of agreed commitments.

Shaheryar........

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