President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon landed in Islamabad Wednesday for a two-day visit on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Federal Minister Khusro Bakhtiyar received him at Nur Khan Airbase.

The Tajik president is accompanied by a high-level delegation to hold discussions with Pakistani leadership on multilateral issues.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had extended an invitation to Rahmon in March on behalf of PM Khan in a meeting in Dushanbe.

Announcing the visit of President Rahmon, the Foreign Office said, “Tajikistan is important within the context of Pakistan’s vision for closer ties and enhanced cooperation with Central Asia. The vision emphasizes forging deeper trade, investment, energy, security, and people-to-people links.”

Qureshi during the 9th Heart of Asia — Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference in Dushanbe, had met with the civil and military leadership of Tajikistan.

Pakistan has also offered its seaports to Tajikistan since they offered the shortest route to connectivity with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

During the visit, PM Khan and President Rahmon will lead their respective sides in delegation-level talks.

President Rahmon has visited Pakistan seven times since 1994. His last bilateral visit was in November 2015.

In the multilateral context, President Rahmon visited Pakistan for the 13th ECO Summit held in Islamabad in March 2017. His forthcoming visit will reinforce the efforts of both sides to forge a long-term, multi-dimensional relationship.