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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has invited Tajikistan to explore new trade opportunities and consider restoring direct flights between the two countries, the state broadcaster reported on Monday.

The development came during President Zardari’s meeting with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Qatar.

Islamabad sees Tajikistan as gateway to Central Asia while Dushanbe views Islamabad as a route to the Arabian Sea. Both countries have lately stepped-up cooperation in trade, defense, energy and connectivity projects such as CASA-1000.

President Zardari told his Tajik counterpart that Pakistan greatly values its multifaceted relationship with Tajikistan, rooted in shared history, culture and linguistic affinity.

“President Asif Ali Zardari has invited Tajikistan to explore new avenues of trade and connectivity through Pakistan, including the possibility of restoration of direct flights,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster said in its report.

Zardari also welcomed the resumption of work on the CASA-1000 project, which was launched in 2016 and aims to enable Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to export surplus electricity to Pakistan and Afghanistan during summer months.

In October, Pakistan and Tajikistan pledged early operationalization of the $1.2 billion Western-backed project to build a power line between Central Asia and South Asia. The project initially meant to allow the export of electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan by 2020 but has been stalled for years by turmoil in Afghanistan.

Zardari also accepted President Rahmon’s invitation to visit Tajikistan.

Pakistan and Tajikistan, both members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, also concluded a joint counterterrorism exercise in August. Both countries have strengthened security cooperation in recent years to combat militancy and cross-border crime.