(Eurasianet) — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Pakistan, which concluded February 4, reflects a quiet but consequential shift in Central Asia’s geo-economic outlook, one in which Pakistan is increasingly seen as a viable southern gateway for regional trade. 

The visit produced trade deals, but officials emphasized the strategic importance of Tokayev’s first official mission to Islamabad. A commentary published February 3 by the official Qazinform news agency stated that the two countries had been for decades only “distant partners,” but were now shifting into “project-oriented mode, with concrete routes, contracts, market access, logistics, and transit.” 

“For Kazakhstan, Pakistan is not just a market in South Asia but also access to the ports of the Arabian Sea and, consequently, alternative export corridors at a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult for the world to rely on one or two routes,” the commentary continued. 

Kazakhstan is not alone in Central Asia in recognizing Pakistan’s importance as a trade outlet. A February 3 session of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission yielded a commitment to expand bilateral cooperation, setting a target of over four-fold growth in trade turnover to $2 billion annually within two years. 

What has distinguished Tokayev’s visit is its timing and intent. It comes amid disruptions to traditional Eurasian supply chains caused by Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine. That........

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