Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Tajikistan

MASSEGE
The establishment of diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and India on August 28, 1992 became grate historical events of bilateral friendship. These two countries historically linked by long-standing tradition of close cooperation and friendship between the people, deep cross-cultural relations. Under the new statehood of the Republic of Tajikistan relations between countries moved to a new stage of development.
The Republic of India was one of the first foreign countries, which recognized Independence of a new country in the Central Asia, the Republic of Tajikistan.
Even before that, Tajik and Indian people had good contacts and effectively used Silk Road for the close cooperation. Because of that, there are lots of similarities between Tajikistan and India in culture and tradition.

During the Soviet period the relations between Tajik and Indian peoples became closer. The main person at that time, who played major role in a historical link between two people from Tajik side, was Tajik poet Mirzo Tursun-Zoda. He visited India several times and supported Indian people on the fighting for their Independence during 1947-1949. He wrote several poems about Indian people and their heroism on the way for the freedom and building democratic country. Such as, “Indian ballad”- (1948-49), “I am freedom from Asia” (1950-56), “From Gang to Kremlin” (1970) “Tara Chandra” were written by Mirzo Tursun-Zoda, where he described life of Indian people after Independence.
Nowadays the relationship between the two countries has a new level and it is on the progress of a new stage of cooperation.
Tajik-Indian political dialogue started from 1994, when India opened its Diplomatic mission in Tajikistan and has became very intensive from 2004 after opening the Embassy of Tajikistan in India.

Today, Tajikistan is in the same or similar positions with India and has consistently supported its initiatives and efforts to narrow and wide international platforms of the UN system, SCO and other international and regional organizations. The political leadership of Tajikistan supports India’s position on key international issues.
Tajikistan and India have repeatedly started their interest in establishing constructive interaction in fighting against international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. 
The political dialogue and exchange of visits of high level political leadership of both countries showed big interest of both sides.


The visit of Prime-minister of India Atal Bihar Vajpey to Tajikistan in 2003 and state visit of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to India in 2006 changed the view of future cooperation between Tajikistan and India in many spheres including foreign policy, economy, energy sector, defence, science, culture and education.     
Today, we have Inter Governmental Commission, Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, Programme of Cooperation between the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and the Department of Sciences and Technology of the Government of India, Culture Exchange Programme for the period of 2006-2009 and ets. 
Tajikistan and India expressed their support to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for the sovereign, stable, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan.
Both sides have similar views on major problems in the region.     
The state visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to India on August 2006 was greatest important for the improving relations between the two countries. India’s major initiative of the President of Tajikistan to promote regional cooperation in the field of hydroelectric power, the establishment of a regional electricity market, the realization of projects in the field of transport and road construction were supported by Indian partners.
We believe, that this effective cooperation could be served as a good example and benefiting our people as well as the region and all entire the world.
I would like to emphasize close contact people to people of Tajikistan and India. After Independence these process is going very satisfactory and we will welcome it.
Tajikistan gives big attention to India and its relation with Republic of India is one of the priorities of the foreign policy of the Republic of Tajikistan.  
I think that 15th years of diplomatic relation between Tajikistan and India it is only beginning of our new fruitfully cooperation between our countries and our people.
We are sure that Tajikistan and India will continue constructive and positive close cooperation in bilateral, as well as in multilevel direction in a future.  
 Hamrokhon Zarifi
Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Tajikistan