Russia supports Pakistan on Afghanistan, drone attacks

Russia supporting Pakistan’s stance on Afghanistan said there should be national reconciliation and the process should be driven by Afghans themselves for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Addressing a joint with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar here on Thursday Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov said the two countries today had detailed discussions on bilateral relations both at economic and political planes.
” We are longing for better ties with Pakistan”, he said.
About postponement of the visit of President Putin to Pakistan‚ he said the Russian President has already conveyed to President Zardari that he was unable to visit Pakistan due to tough schedule.
He has also expressed his desire to have meeting between the two Presidents at the earliest.
On Afghanistan‚ he said any solution imposed from outside would not work. He said there should be national reconciliation and the process should be driven by Afghans themselves.
To a question he said Russia was encouraged by confidence building measures between Pakistan and India. He said the two countries are capable of resolving their problems.
The Russian Foreign Minister said his country supports President Zardari’s proposed conference on drugs trafficking. He said Moscow also supports Pakistan’s efforts to address the challenge of terrorism.
Hina Rabbani Khar speaking on the occasion said that both the countries expressed desire for boosting bilateral relations. This is the millennium of relations with Russia,” she said and added that President Zardari’s last year visit to Moscow played a great role in improving relations between both the countries.
She said that Pakistan and Russia were hoping that President Putin would soon visit Islamabad. She said that Pakistan was forging its foreign policy in accordance with the guidelines of the parliament and there is broad national consensus in Pakistan in further strengthening and improving relations with the Russian Federation.
Khar said that both the countries have shared interests in Afghanistan. We discussed situation in Afghanistan, bilateral relations and economic and political issues. She said that Russian and Pakistan could cope with the international challenges jointly.
The Foreign Minister said the two countries today had detailed discussions on bilateral relations both at economic and political planes.
It is their vision that the economic projects which were contributed by Russia in 20th century must see 21st century with Russian collaboration, she said.
She pointed out that only recently the two countries signed three MoUs on expansion and modernization of Pakistan Steel Mills‚ cooperation in Railway sector and energy field.
She said the two Foreign Ministers agreed that it will be useful opportunity for Presidents of the two countries to meet shortly.
She said the political leadership of the two countries has the commitment and resolve to strengthen bilateral ties.
She said today the two countries had an extensive review of the scope of cooperation within the economic framework Hina Rabbani Khar hoped that in the next few months the two sides will be able to move beyond MoUs and go to specific projects within these areas.
She said there was convergence of views between the two countries on issues of regional and international importance.
To a question Foreign Minister Khar said drone attacks are not only counterproductive but also illegal and unlawful. She said there is need to find ways and means to counter terrorism within the legal means.
Seconding her stance the Russian Foreign Minister also opposed drone strikes against Pakistan and said violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of any state is unacceptable.
“It is not right to violate the sovereignty and integrity of any state. We fully support Pakistan’s stance,” he said.
Hina Rabbani clarifying her remarks made in the United States about drone strikes‚ she said if the objective is to end terrorism then Pakistan supports that objective but ways and means to achieve this objective must be legal and lawful and must not be counter-productive.