Kazakhstan Envoy Highlights Expanding Ties with Pakistan in IT, Connectivity and Trade
Ansar Mahmood Bhatti
ISLAMABAD, SEPT 22 /DNA/ – Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, underscored the growing momentum in bilateral relations between the two countries, with a special focus on digital cooperation, trade, connectivity, and interfaith dialogue. Speaking at a press conference, the envoy said that Kazakhstan was entering a new era of partnership with Pakistan, marked by tangible initiatives and high-level engagements.
Ambassador Kistafin noted that this year’s State of the Nation address by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev placed special emphasis on Kazakhstan’s IT sector and digital transformation. He highlighted that for the first time, Pakistan was directly mentioned in the presidential speech, reflecting the importance Kazakhstan attaches to cooperation with Islamabad.
He recalled that in September, the first in-person session of the Kazakhstan-Pakistan Joint Working Group on IT and Digital Communications took place in Islamabad. A delegation from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, along with national IT firms, held extensive talks with their Pakistani counterparts, including leading technology organizations. “This platform is expected to lay the foundation for long-term digital collaboration, including AI integration, digital education, and technology transfer,” the ambassador said.
The envoy highlighted President Tokayev’s announcement of a proposed railway line from Turgundi to Herat (Afghanistan), designed to link Kazakhstan with Pakistani seaports, particularly Gwadar and Karachi. He described the project as a game-changer that would elevate connectivity between Central and South Asia to “an entirely new level.”
He further stressed the importance of regional initiatives such as the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project, which would serve as a vital corridor connecting Central Asian economies with South Asian markets. “Regional connectivity is the backbone of future cooperation,” he said, adding that such projects could significantly expand trade volumes.
Ambassador Kistafin also spoke about the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Astana earlier this month, which drew 100 delegations from major faiths and international organizations. He praised Pakistan’s participation in the event, where leaders highlighted the role of spirituality in fostering peace amid global conflicts.
Messages from religious figures, including Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch Leopold III of Jerusalem, underlined the urgent need for interfaith dialogue in light of ongoing crises, particularly in the Middle East. “This dialogue is not symbolic—it carries real responsibility to heal divisions and strengthen shared human values,” the envoy remarked.
On the economic front, Ambassador Kistafin said the past year had been “historic” for Kazakhstan-Pakistan relations. In April, the two countries co-hosted their largest-ever business forum in Karachi, with around 500 participants, including 150 delegates from Kazakhstan. Commercial contracts worth $200 million were signed in a single day. The following day, the 30th session of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission convened, yielding agreements in trade, culture, sports, and investment.
He also disclosed that Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna, held talks with Pakistan’s Fauji Foundation, paving the way for major corporate partnerships.
The ambassador revealed that in early November, the President of Kazakhstan will undertake a state visit to Pakistan, the first such visit since 2003. “We believe this historic visit will elevate our bilateral cooperation to a new height,” he said.
Earlier this month, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Murat Nurtleu, led a large delegation to Islamabad, including ministers of trade, transport, agriculture, and AI, as well as senior officials from the sovereign wealth fund. “Almost half of our government was in Pakistan,” Ambassador Kistafin noted, stressing the seriousness Kazakhstan attaches to this partnership.
Ambassador Kistafin emphasized that Kazakhstan and Pakistan are on the cusp of a transformative era in their relations. With progress in IT, connectivity, and trade, coupled with a shared commitment to interfaith dialogue, the two nations are poised to become pivotal partners in linking Central and South Asia.
