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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as both leaders discussed bilateral relations and other important matters.
The three-hour-long meeting comes amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis. PM Imran Khan also discussed issues including economic cooperation hours after a number of Western nations hit Russia with new sanctions for its military deployment into parts of eastern Ukraine.
The two leaders reviewed the entire array of bilateral relations including economic and energy cooperation, particularly the Pakistan Stream gas pipeline. The regional situation including the developing scenario of Ukraine also came under discussion.
“Both the leaders discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchange views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia,” read the brief statement issued by Kremlin.
In a statement issued by Prime Minister’s office (PMO), the Prime Minister regretted the latest Kyiv-Moscow conflict and said that Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict.
Appreciating President Putin’s understanding of the respect and sensitivities that the Muslims attach to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the Prime Minister said that inter-faith harmony and respect for all religions was imperative for peace and harmony within and among the societies.
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) February 24, 2022
During the meeting, the prime minister stressed that conflict was not in anyone’s interest and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically in case of conflict
“Pakistan believes that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” the prime minister told the Russian president.
Recalling the telephone conversations between the two leaders, the premier expressed confidence that the positive trajectory of bilateral relations will continue to move forward in the future.
He added that the trust and cordiality marking the relationship would translate into further deepening and broadening of mutual cooperation in diverse fields.
The prime minister reaffirmed the importance of the Pakistan-Stream Gas Pipeline as a flagship economic project between Pakistan and Russia and also discussed cooperation on prospective energy-related projects.
PM Imran Khan underscored Pakistan’s commitment to forging a long-term, multidimensional relationship with Russia.
Averting Afghanistan’s potential economic crisis
In the regional context, the prime minister underlined the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis and preventing potential economic meltdown in Afghanistan.
The premier reiterated that Pakistan would continue to work with the international community for a stable, peaceful and connected Afghanistan.
In this regard, he underscored the ongoing cooperation and coordination between Pakistan and Russia at various international and regional fora, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Situation in IOJK
On the situation in South Asia, the prime minister highlighted the serious human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) and underscored the imperative of peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The prime minister also highlighted the developments detrimental to regional peace and stability and stressed the need for measures that would help keep the regional balance.
Expressing concerns on rising trends of extremism and Islamophobia in the world, the prime minister emphasised the need for interfaith harmony and coexistence.
Appreciating President Putin’s understanding of the respect and sensitivities that the Muslims attach to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the prime minister said that interfaith harmony and respect for all religions was imperative for peace and harmony within and among the societies.
PM Imran’s arrival
PM Imran Khan, earlier on his arrival at Kremlin – the executive headquarters of the Russian Federation – was warmly received by President Putin. This is the first bilateral visit by a Pakistani prime minister to Russia after a gap of 23 years and is being termed as a historic step to renew relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI arrived at Kremlin earlier today to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.#PMIKinRussia pic.twitter.com/yQq8tgae6H
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) February 24, 2022
PM Imran Khan arrived in Moscow on a two-day official visit yesterday, where he was received at the airport by Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and presented with a guard of honor at the airport.
The prime minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including federal ministers Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Asad Umar and Hammad Azhar, Commerce Advisor Abdur Razzak Dawood, National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf and MNA Amir Mahmood Kiyani.
Qureshi-Lavrov meeting
Separately, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov discussed important regional and global issues amid the Moscow-Kyiv crisis.
During the meeting, Pakistan and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations, with FM Qureshi assuring his counterpart that Islamabad gives importance to its relationship with Moscow.
“Pakistan attaches special importance to bilateral relations with Russia […] relations between Pakistan and Russia have gradually strengthened,” FM Qureshi said while speaking on the occasion.
The foreign minister said Pakistan is pursuing the agenda of promoting economic priorities and regional ties under the vision of PM Imran Khan.
The two leaders discussed important regional and global issues, including bilateral relations, enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Later, Lavrov congratulated FM Qureshi and Pakistani leadership for successfully conducting the extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers session on Afghanistan. The Russian foreign minister also expressed best wishes regarding the upcoming meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad next month.
