Pakistan PM Khan meets Russia’s Putin in Moscow

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral talks in Moscow on Thursday to lay the foundation for deeper ties.

The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues to strengthen cooperation in diverse fields, particularly economic and energy partnerships. They also discussed a range of regional and international issues, including the Afghanistan situation.

PM Khan and President Putin discussed bilateral ties and regional situation sitting across a smaller table in Kremlin, unlike the famous long table talks Putin held with world leaders in the past weeks.

The meeting marked the first visit by a Pakistani prime minister to Russia in over two decades.

Khan arrived in Moscow on February 23 night on a two-day official visit with a high-level delegation. He was greeted by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov upon his arrival and presented a guard of honour at the airport. Pakistan PM Khan also laid a floral wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall - the memorial for soldiers who died in World War II.

The $2.5 billion Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project remained the key focus during the bilateral talks in Moscow. The 1,100km gas pipeline will secure the delivery of 16 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually from LNG terminals in Karachi and Gwadar with those in Lahore.

Build new partnership

Pakistan and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations during the meeting of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi also met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. The two foreign ministers discussed important regional and global issues and ways to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Pakistani analysts are optimistic that PM Khan’s visit would help build a new partnership with Russia. The business community is hopeful that the Pakistani premier’s visit to Moscow would “open new avenues of cooperation” and opportunities for both sides.

PM Khan visited Moscow on February 23-24 at the invitation of the Russian President. The Russia visit comes after Imran Khan’s “successful visit” to Beijing as Pakistan looks forward to strengthening ties with regional powers.

Pakistani prime minister’s visit came at a time when the Russia-Ukraine conflict reached a critical point on Thursday. President Putin ordered a “military operation” in Ukraine which the Kyiv government called a “full-scale invasion”.

Pakistan Russia expanding economic partnership

Pakistan and Russia have recently announced initiatives to enhance trade cooperation as Moscow aspires to expand its economic footprint in Asia and Islamabad is looking for energy suppliers to meet its economic goals. Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russia witnessed an increase hitting an all-time high of $790 million in 2020. The two countries recently agreed to develop cooperation in economic, energy, defence, industrial modernisation, railways and aviation, science and technology.