Japarov's Visit to Pakistan: New Interactions Between Central and South Asia Amidst Geopolitical Shifts

On December 3, 2025, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov's plane landed in Islamabad. This was not only a head-of-state visit but also a geopolitical symbol connecting two key regions.

Japarov's visit to Pakistan marked the first state visit to Islamabad by a Kyrgyz leader in over thirty years since independence. This diplomatic move broke the long-standing fragmented state of bilateral relations, signifying a redefinition of the roles of Central and South Asian countries in the geopolitical landscape.

During the visit, Japarov held talks with Pakistani President Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Both sides affirmed their mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and expressed their commitment to deepening cooperation in various fields, with high-quality Belt and Road Initiative as the main focus.

01 Background and Significance of this Historic Visit

Since Kyrgyzstan's independence, bilateral relations between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan have remained infrequent. Prior to Japarov's visit, the only previous visit by a Kyrgyz leader to Pakistan was in January 2005, when Askar Akayev made a brief working visit.

This fragmented pattern of interaction resulted in a long-standing lack of a clear political trajectory and a systematic framework for cooperation between the two countries.

Bilateral trade relations were also extremely limited, barely reaching $20 million, a figure severely disproportionate to the economic potential of both nations. This low level of trade reflects a lack of depth in economic ties between the two countries and reveals obstacles to regional economic cooperation.

Japarov's state visit thus serves as a significant marker, indicating that both sides hope to shift their interactions from sporadic to systematic and to identify specific areas of cooperation that have long been on the periphery of the overall agenda.

02 Strategic Considerations Amidst Geopolitical Changes

The current international situation is severe and complex, with the unprecedented changes of the century accelerating. The protectionist, unilateralist, and isolationist policies pursued by certain major powers have unsettled countries worldwide, including their allies.

In this geopolitically turbulent environment, both Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan face new strategic challenges. Kyrgyzstan, as a Central Asian country, has traditionally needed to balance the influence of major powers like Russia and China in its foreign relations. Pakistan, on the other hand, is an important South Asian nation that has long maintained complex and close relations with important countries such as the United States and China.

Both countries recognize the need to broaden their autonomy in decision-making during periods of geopolitical instability and to reshape their external interactions in new ways.

The rapprochement between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan is not directed against any third party, but rather a rational choice based on their respective national interests. Kyrgyzstan strives to play an independent and active role in the emerging regional landscape, avoiding being relegated to the margins of its foreign policy.

03 The Strategic Value of the Southward Extension of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project is considered a key infrastructure project that will reshape the regional economic landscape. This railway will promote deep integration between China and international markets in Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and Europe, becoming a landmark project of connectivity and mutual benefit under the Belt and Road Initiative.

For Kyrgyzstan, this railway will not only help improve the overall transportation network across Eurasia but will also create new opportunities for post-pandemic economic recovery and unlocking of economic potential.

According to Kyrgyz economic experts, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project is expected to handle 13 million tons of freight annually upon completion, with 20% within Kyrgyzstan and 80% transiting through the country. Kyrgyzstan could earn $200 million annually from transit alone.

More importantly, this railway project may extend southward, passing through Afghanistan and southwestward to Pakistan's logistics and port hubs. This extension will substantially change how Central Asian countries connect with global markets.

Pakistan seeks to expand its connections northward, while Kyrgyzstan needs access to transport corridors leading to new markets. Against this backdrop, the southward extension of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway represents a logical convergence of interests for both countries within the regional framework.

04 China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Regional Connectivity Opportunities

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a crucial component of China's Belt and Road Initiative, is a key infrastructure corridor across Eurasia. Connecting Kashgar and Gwadar Port, it is reshaping the regional logistics landscape.

While Kyrgyzstan is not directly involved in the CPEC, its implementation has created a new reality. China's Xinjiang region borders Kyrgyzstan, prompting Kyrgyzstan to explore potential transport connectivity options in the long term, aiming to gain access to the sea via Pakistani ports.

Kanabek Aziz, Director of the Kyrgyz Institute of Geopolitics and Strategic Studies, points out: "Pakistan can help Kyrgyzstan gain access to ports around the world."

Kyrgyzstan prioritizes its national interests and is striving to maximize such opportunities. Furthermore, its political dialogue with Pakistan is not directed against other countries, including India or Afghanistan.

05 Cooperation Opportunities within Multilateral Frameworks

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) provides an important multilateral cooperation platform for Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan. Both countries are SCO member states, and there are already numerous precedents for cooperation within this framework.

In August 2025, on the eve of the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States, Japarov and Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif sent congratulatory letters to celebrate the successful holding of the "2025 SCO Member States Cultural Exchange Activities."

This event, jointly hosted by China Media Group and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Secretariat, witnessed the release of several achievements in cultural exchanges among SCO member states.

Cultural exchanges are an important soft channel for promoting regional cooperation. In his congratulatory message, Japarov pointed out that such cultural exchange activities are not only important international events but also a vivid embodiment of the core concepts of the "Shanghai Spirit."

Within the SCO framework, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan can further strengthen cooperation to jointly promote regional connectivity and security cooperation.

A new era of regional connectivity is dawning. With the potential southward extension of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and its connection to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, Central Asian countries will gain a new passage to the Arabian Sea, which will inevitably change the logistics landscape of the entire Eurasian continent.

Faced with complex changes in the international situation, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan are strengthening bilateral cooperation to jointly address challenges and seize development opportunities. The cooperation between the two countries will not only benefit their respective national development but also make a positive contribution to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.