India, Tajikistan working on an easy route for trade: Hamid Ansari

NEW DELHI: India and Tajikistan are working on finding an easy route for enhanced bilateral trade, Vice President Hamid Ansari said today.

"We are going to further increase trade. There is a great scope for micro, small and medium industries where Indian expertise and experience can come in handy. There are specific areas where trade can be furthered. The problem everywhere is one of connectivity.

"The present approach route for trade are complex, time- consuming and difficult. These are something to which we have to live with till something better comes up," the Vice President told the accompanying media on board a special aircraft while returning here from a four-day visit to Tajikistan.

The two countries agreed on opening up of a trans-Afghan corridor to facilitate easy access to trade to and from the land-locked country. The proposed trade route will come via Afghanistan and Pakistan, said an External Ministry official.

Tajikistan has its borders with China (520-km), Afghanistan (1,420 km) and the Afghan-Wakhan corridor (16-km), which is the least distance between Tajikistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Ansari termed his visit and talks with Tajikistan leadership as "very productive".

Cooperation on security issues, cross- border terrorism and energy security were the main focus of Ansari's talks with top Tajik leadership.

Both the countries also agreed to strengthen their relations in mining, Information Technology-enabled services and medical sectors among others.

"Last two and half days have been extremely productive in terms of the substance of discussions and the general ambience and atmosphere in which they were conducted... A number of things were agreed upon for cooperation in different areas," Ansari said. PTI The two countries discussed regional security issues especially with regard to Afghanistan.

"We have a common interest in checking cross-border terrorism. They also have cross-border terrorism, we also have cross-border terrorism," the Vice President said adding both the countries were sharing counter-terror information regularly.

Ansari is the first Vice President to have visited Tajikistan.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Tajikistan in 2003. Former President Pratibha Patil had paid a visit to the central Asian nation in September 2009.

Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon has been a frequent visitor to India. He has visited India five times -- 1995, 1999, 2001, 2006 and in September 2012.

During Tajik President's last visit to India, both the countries had elevated their bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership.