On 4 February 2026, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif held talks in Islamabad, marking a new stage in bilateral relations. The meeting began in a restricted format and later continued with the participation of the official delegations of both countries, DKNews.kz reports.
This visit was President Tokayev’s first state visit to Pakistan since taking office, and he underscored its historical importance from the outset.
“This is my first state visit to Pakistan as President of Kazakhstan, and I am convinced that it is of a historic nature and represents an important milestone in our time-tested partnership. I highly value the friendship between our peoples, shaped over centuries through interactions along the Silk Road and within the broader Islamic civilisation,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Symbolism and a new chapter
The President noted that the visit coincided with the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Pakistan, giving it special symbolic meaning. He recalled that Pakistan has been an important and reliable partner for Kazakhstan in South Asia since the early years of independence.
A key political outcome of the talks was the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership, which Tokayev described as a turning point in bilateral relations.
“The Joint Declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership being signed today marks an important historical milestone, opening a new chapter in our bilateral cooperation,” the President stated.
Economy and investment at the core
President Tokayev emphasised that Kazakhstan approached the talks with a pragmatic and results-oriented agenda. He said he arrived in Pakistan with a large delegation and a concrete package of proposals aimed at significantly expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as collaboration in other priority areas.
A special focus of the discussions was placed on transport connectivity, identified as one of Kazakhstan’s strategic priorities. Located at the crossroads of major East–West and North–South routes, Kazakhstan seeks to strengthen its role as a key transit hub.
“In this regard, Kazakhstan will continue implementing concrete projects in the field of transport and logistics, including in close coordination with the countries of Central Asia,” President Tokayev noted.
The sides also discussed prospects for cooperation in energy, industry, agriculture, digitalisation and the financial sector.
Coordination on multilateral platforms
The leaders highlighted the importance of close interaction within multilateral frameworks, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and other international bodies. Such coordination, they agreed, enhances regional stability and helps align positions on global issues.
Pakistan’s position: “Kazakhstan is our strategic partner”
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif warmly welcomed the President of Kazakhstan to Islamabad and clearly outlined Pakistan’s stance on bilateral relations.
“We thank you for taking the time to visit our brotherly country. The people of Pakistan, the Government and I personally are delighted to welcome you to our land. Kazakhstan is our strategic partner,” said Shahbaz Sharif.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to work closely with Kazakhstan to strengthen cooperation across a wide range of areas.
“You can be assured that we sincerely wish to work with your Government to strengthen the bonds of friendship and build a reliable partnership in various areas of economic cooperation, politics, defence, as well as in establishing trade corridors,” the Prime Minister added.
According to Shahbaz Sharif, Kazakhstan and Pakistan have significant untapped potential for trade and economic cooperation, particularly in energy, industry, agriculture, transport and digitalisation. He stressed the need to achieve tangible and measurable progress across all areas of bilateral engagement.
Looking ahead
At the conclusion of the talks, President Tokayev invited the Prime Minister of Pakistan to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan later this year. Such a visit, he noted, would allow both sides to review the implementation of the agreements reached in Islamabad and determine further steps to strengthen the strategic partnership.
The Islamabad talks demonstrated that relations between Kazakhstan and Pakistan are moving beyond symbolism toward a pragmatic, results-driven partnership, where historical ties are reinforced by economic logic, transport connectivity and a shared interest in long-term cooperation.
