Tajikistan is the nearest “tan” of the six former Soviet republics that became independent after the USSR imploded. A narrow strip of Afghan land separates Tajikistan and Pakistan. Pakistan should build an air bridge over that piece of land and swap it with an Afghan birth in Gwader. Tajikistan should be connected to Pakistan in many ways. Their current offer of electricity should be taken and made part of the robust 5 year trade plan–similar to what Pakistan has with China. India’s air force base in Aiyni should be closed down immediately.

These trade routes are not new. The Indus valley people traded with the people of China through the “tans”. They have existed for thousands of years. After all Samkand and Bokhara were the pillars which nourashed Babar. Unable to conquer Farghana, he headed south to greener pastures in Lahore and Delhi.

Tajikistan offers to export power and import cement Staff Report

 
ISLAMABAD: Tajikistan can help Pakistan to meet energy shortfall and we are considering import of cement from Pakistan, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan, Saidov Saidbeg Boykhonovich, said Tuesday.
During his meeting with President Islamabad Chamber of Industry, Mohammad Ijaz Abbasi, the ambassador said, “electricity price in Tajikistan was very cheap as it is about three cents per kilowatt.” The ambassador informed that 21 hydel-projects were under construction in Tajikistan, including three big high power stations, which would generate great amount of electricity and Tajikistan would export electricity to neighbouring countries. He said Tajikistan had potential to export 1000MW of electricity to Pakistan.
“International organisations like IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, European Commission and UNDP were working on energy transmission line project via Phule-Khumri and Kabul areas to Pakistan,” he maintained.
Saidbeg said Pakistan was given proposal for cooperation in high power station projects, but Pakistan did not responded. He said that Tajikistan was also working on liking Tajikistan with Central Asian states and Pakistan for robust economic activity.

The envoy said there is a lot of construction work in Tajikistan and it requires cement from Pakistan, but right now there were illegal exports from Pakistan which needed to be checked and should be channelised in a proper manner. He said that Tajikistan has the potential to export Alluminium to Pakistan . He expressed the desire that both the countries should join hands in promoting agriculture sector as well.
The ambassador said that there is difficulty in getting business visas for Tajik businessmen and Pakistan should relax its visa policy.

Speaking on the occasion the ICCI chief, Ijaz Abbasi, said the trade volume between Pakistan and Tajikistan was extremely low, around $3 million that needs to be increased.
He said Tajikistan was the nearest Central Asian Estate to Pakistan but the trade between the two countries was not up to the mark. Both the government had exchanged high level official visits and signed various agreements to boost trade between the two countries.

Abbasi said that since Tajikistan is a landlocked country so it should take advantage of Pakistani ports to increasing its exports. The ICCI president said that Pakistan was short of electricity and Tajikistan could help Pakistan in energy sector to overcome the energy crises.