On 18 May 2026, Hamza Boltaev, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Afghanistan and South Asian Studies, participated in the international webinar titled “Pakistan and the Turkic States – From Shared Roots and Strategic Partnership”. The event, organised by the International Institute for International Relations and Integration Studies (IIRIS), brought together experts from Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to discuss the historical, cultural and strategic foundations of cooperation between Pakistan and the Turkic states.

The webinar focused on the shared civilisational, linguistic and cultural linkages connecting Pakistan with Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, while also addressing the practical prospects for modern partnership. Particular attention was given to trade, regional connectivity, energy cooperation, defence dialogue, education and youth exchanges. In this context, Hamza Boltaev’s participation contributed to a broader expert discussion on the growing importance of Central and South Asian interregional cooperation, especially amid renewed attention to the Middle Corridor, CPEC and the role of the Organization of Turkic States.

The discussion also aimed to identify concrete areas for cooperation in 2026–2027 and to strengthen dialogue among policymakers, researchers, business representatives and academic institutions. The webinar underscored the importance of transforming shared historical and cultural foundations into practical initiatives that can support regional connectivity, deepen mutual understanding and expand strategic partnerships between Pakistan and the Turkic world.