ISLAMABAD The visiting Tajikistan Defence delegation headed by Colonel General Khayrulloev Sherali Thursday sought to evolve military to military cooperation with Pakistan in order to tackle common challenges related to terrorism. He expressed this desire for enhanced military to military cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan during his meeting with Pakistans leadership here on Thursday. The visiting dignitary met separately with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Tariq Majeed and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and discussed matters of mutual interest. Tajikistan Defence Minister appreciated Pakistans comprehensive efforts and commitment to contain and eradicate terrorism and violent extremism. In his meeting with Prime Minister Gilani, the Tajik Defence Minister thanked the Prime Minister for converting the US $ 13 million loan to Tajikistan into grant. He also conveyed his governments gratitude for Pakistans offer of enhanced gratis training slots for Tajik armed forces, and for sending Pakistani experts to develop Tajikistans military institutions. While talking to the Tajikistan Defence team led by Colonel General Khayrulloev Sherali, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan desires to open a new chapter of relationship with Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction on the signing of the MoU on Military and Military Technical Cooperation during the Tajik Defence Ministers visit, and emphasised the need for establishing trade and energy corridors with Central Asia for the development of the entire region. The Prime Minister hoped that the two countries would soon be linked through land through Chitral in Pakistan and Ishkashim in Tajikistan, and required consent of Afghanistan for establishing this important road link through Wakhan strip. He also offered the use of Gwadar Port to Tajikistan for its external trade. The Tajik Defence Minister conveyed the gratitude of his Government for Pakistans generous offer of enhanced gratis training slots for Pakistans armed forces personnel and for sending Pakistan armed forces trainers to Tajikistan to help his government develop its military institutions. Colonel General Khayrulloev Sherali said that Tajikistan would like to send the trainees to these institutions and will consider procurement of defence equipment from Pakistan in the future. He also proposed bilateral cooperation in developing hydropower capacity of his country to enable it to export electricity to Afghanistan as well as to Pakistan. He informed the Prime Minister that his government would fully support Pakistans case for the membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Later, the Tajikistan Defence team met with Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tarik Majeed and exchanged views on evolving security situation and impact of revised US strategy on regional countries including Tajikistan and Pakistan, defence cooperation between the two countries and other subjects of mutual interest. Discussing the regional security situation, Chairman JCSC highlighted that while pursuing a comprehensive overarching strategy that has been gaining momentum and progressing well in successively recovering the militancy affected tribal regions to re-establish the writ of the Government. He also called for devising joint strategies by Pakistan and Tajikistan to tackle a common threat from transnational terrorism and crime including drug trafficking and arms smuggling. The visiting dignitary and his delegation were given a comprehensive formal briefing on Pakistans security perspective. Earlier, Colonel-General Sherali Khairulloyev also called on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and discussed matters of mutual interest.