Tajik president discusses defense cooperation, situation in Afghanistan with senior Pakistani military official

DUSHANBE. Aug 28 (Interfax) - Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Chairman of the Pakistani Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Sahir Shamshad Mirza have met to discuss multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, including on security and defense, the Tajik presidential press service said on Monday.

"Tajikistan and Pakistan have developed substantive cooperation in the political and trade-economic areas, including in energy, transport, and communications, as well as in the cultural, humanitarian and security spheres," it said.

Rahmon welcomed the current, productive process of political interaction, and offered high praise for the mutual confidence felt at the top level between the two countries, it said.

The Tajik president stressed the security and defense partnership between the two countries, and described ongoing contacts between specialized institutions as mutually beneficial and meeting the two countries' interests.

"The parties noted worrying contemporary processes and highlighted the need to continue strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism, the production of and illegal trafficking in drugs, transnational crime, and other areas of mutual interest," it said.

The parties also exchanged opinions on relevant international and regional problems, including the situation in Afghanistan, it said.