Pakistan and Russia on Wednesday agreed to promote and enhance bilateral relations in diverse fields, including trade, energy and people-to-people contacts.
Addressing a joint press conference along with her Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said there had been a scope for cooperation between the two countries in various areas and all aspects for improving cooperation had been discussed during the meeting of the two foreign ministers. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar is visiting the Russian Federation at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, from February 7 to 10.
She held in-depth talks with her Russian counterpart on expanding and diversifying Pakistan-Russia relations. The two foreign ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest besides increasing cooperation in energy, infrastructure development, agriculture, science and technology.
To a question on Afghanistan, Hina Rabbani Khar said Pakistan had clear policy that it would extend full help and cooperation to any Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-driven peace initiative, as it was the only long lasting solution to the problem. She said Pakistan had repeatedly said that there should be a political solution to the Afghan problem for durable peace in the region. The foreign minister said TAPI and KASA 1000 energy projects were also discussed during the meeting, adding that Pakistan got an encouraging response from Russia for more investment in Pakistan Steel Mills.
The foreign minister said next quadrilateral summit being held in Pakistan was also discussed during the meeting with her Russian counterpart.
Addressing the joint press conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said both the countries also agreed to cooperate in fighting terrorism and drug crimes.
He said, “We have a good future in implementation of major transnational energy projects at the border between the Central Asian and South Asian regions.”
Lavrov said, “In our international cooperation we pay special attention to the issues of terrorism and drug crimes.”
He said soon, federal service representative of Russia on control of drug substances would start working in Islamabad.
