President Asif Ali Zardari will embark on a four-day visit to Kyrgyzstan on Monday to discuss trade, energy, investment cooperation and regional developments, the foreign office said, marking the first visit by a Pakistani president in 21 years.
Visit Details and Invitation
Zardari will visit the Central Asian country at the invitation of his Kyrgyzstan counterpart Sadyr Zhaparov, who visited Pakistan in December 2025. This was the first visit by a Kyrgyz president to Pakistan in 20 years.
Pakistan has been seeking closer economic ties rooted in energy cooperation with Central Asian Republics amid Islamabad’s efforts to secure new trade corridors through Central Asia. A major element of their cooperation is the CASA-1000 project, launched in 2016, that aims to allow Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to use their hydroelectric power plants to sell excess energy to Pakistan and Afghanistan in the summer months. The project has been delayed for years due to turmoil in Afghanistan.
Official Statement
“At the invitation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, will undertake an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic from 6–9 July 2026, leading a high-level delegation,” the foreign office said.
The statement said Zardari will hold bilateral and delegation-level talks with Zhaparov during his visit. It said the two leaders will review the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations and exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
Areas of Cooperation
“Discussions are expected to focus on deepening cooperation across trade and investment, energy, mining, agriculture, textiles, the halal industry, health care and pharmaceuticals, the digital economy, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges,” the foreign office added.
Zardari will also meet the speaker of the Kyrgyzstan parliament during the visit, the statement added.
Historical Ties
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with Kyrgyzstan and established formal ties with the country on May 10, 1992. The two countries have extended support to each other regularly at global forums such as the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and others.
During Zharapov’s visit to Pakistan last year, Islamabad and Bishkek signed 15 agreements and memorandums of understanding aimed at boosting cooperation across trade, energy, agriculture, education, customs data-sharing and port logistics.
