Islamabad,
The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Pakistan, in collaboration with the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), organized a high-level conference titled “Kazakhstan–Pakistan Relations: Post-Visit Reflections and Pathways for Strategic Cooperation.”
The conference brought together representatives from government institutions, the diplomatic corps, academia, think tanks, business communities, and leading media organizations from both countries, reflecting the growing depth and breadth of bilateral engagement.
Prominent chief guests included Minister of State and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Media Fahd Haroon, COMSTECH Coordinator General Dr. Iqbal Choudhary, Vice-President of the Turkic Academy Askhat Kessikbayev, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Tourism Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Member of the National Assembly Khurram Dastgir Khan, and Director General for Central Asia and ECO at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hasan Ali Zaigham.
The event also featured the launch of the book “Pakistan and the Turkic World,” prepared by the Turkic Academy, highlighting historical, cultural, and strategic linkages between Pakistan and the Turkic region.
In his welcome address, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin shared key outcomes of the recent state visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Pakistan held on February 3–4, 2026. He underlined the signing of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership and more than 70 agreements and memoranda of understanding, including commercial contracts, marking a new phase in bilateral relations.
The ambassador also informed participants about the establishment of Al-Farabi Center at Quaid-i-Azam University, K. Satbayev Center at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Center at the International Islamic University Islamabad, the opening of the “Dostyk” Sports Center, and the successful hosting of the Kazakhstan–Pakistan Business Forum.
Other notable speakers included ISSI Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, ISSI Director Dr. Talat Shabbir, and head of the Central Asian business group “KCM Kant,” Tanvir Aftab. From Kazakhstan, experts Dr. M. Assanbayev of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and S. Savelyev from the Foreign Policy Research Institute under Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated online.
Panel discussions focused on the current state and future prospects of Kazakhstan–Pakistan relations, regional connectivity, transit and transport-logistics cooperation across the Eurasian region, collaboration in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, and the expansion of trade, investment, and humanitarian cooperation.
Experts widely praised the substantive and forward-looking outcomes of the presidential visit, noting that it provided a strong foundation for a comprehensive strategic partnership. Participants unanimously agreed that the high-level engagement has laid solid groundwork for further diversification and expansion of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin expressed gratitude to the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad for organizing the conference in a highly professional and effective manner.