The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East & Africa at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, in partnership with the Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research, convened a ceremony on April 27, 2026 to mark Zimbabwe’s 46th National Day with national anthems, dignitaries and a focus on expanding bilateral cooperation.
Ambassador Khalid Mahmood recalled Zimbabwe’s independence on April 18, 1980, and paid tribute to its resilience while underlining the longstanding Pakistan Zimbabwe relationship rooted in South–South cooperation. He highlighted ongoing collaboration in defence, education, agriculture and health, and urged a push to expand trade and economic ties in agriculture, textiles and light engineering under Pakistan’s Engage Africa policy.
Dr. Amina Khan, Director CAMEA and moderator of the event, emphasised Africa as a core pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy and described CAMEA’s role in promoting sustained engagement through National Day and Africa Day commemorations. She urged deeper people-to-people and institutional partnerships to translate policy into practical outcomes for both countries.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, President of PAIDAR, traced Pakistan’s support for Zimbabwe back to its nationalist struggle and noted Pakistan’s early recognition in 1980 as evidence of enduring solidarity. He reflected on defence cooperation, trade links, the Pakistani diaspora, and cultural exchanges including cricket ties, while calling for stronger collective representation of developing countries and closer Afro-Asian cooperation inspired by the Bandung spirit.
Ambassador T.M.J. Abu-Basutu of Zimbabwe praised ISSI for hosting the event and underscored brotherly ties, highlighting Pakistan’s role in training Zimbabwe’s Air Force and ongoing defence education through institutions such as the National Defence University and the Foreign Service Academy. He identified untapped opportunities in trade, mining, tourism and infrastructure and welcomed collaboration between governments and the private sector, while reaffirming Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 and its UN engagement priorities.
Ambassador Muhammad Amjad Aziz Qazi noted cordial relations and mutual support at multilateral fora, and announced plans for a bilateral MoU that will include defence cooperation. He drew attention to education links with Zimbabwean students in Pakistan and called for enhanced university-to-university ties and stronger business-to-business linkages, particularly through chambers of commerce.
The event reinforced the shared commitment to deepen Pakistan Zimbabwe ties through institutional linkages, defence and educational cooperation, and expanded trade and investment. Speakers repeatedly urged turning diplomatic goodwill into concrete projects that benefit communities in both countries under the umbrella of the Engage Africa initiative.
