DUSHANBE, April 30, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon yesterday received visiting Pakistan Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik.

According to presidential press service, the sides discussed issues related to the state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan.

Rahmon and Malik, in particular, discussed cooperation in combating international terrorism and illicit drug trafficking.

They expressed satisfaction with the level of tripartite cooperation between Tajikistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as quadripartite cooperation with participation of the Russian Federation.

Tajik leader and the Pakistan interior minister also considered issues related to expansion of trade and economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan.  Rehman Malik stressed  that Tajikistan could use the Pakistani seaport Gwadar for cargo transit.

The sides also noted that implementation of the CASA-100 project was of vital importance for both countries and the entire region as a whole.

We will recall that this regional electricity transmission project will supply summer surplus power from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.