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First-ever Pakistan-Russia Consultation on regional issues held in Islamabad

December 14, 2016

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Pakistan and Russia held their first-ever consultation on regional issues on Wednesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Islamabad.

During the consultation, a range of regional issues, as well as key areas of mutual interest, including economic cooperation and connectivity, were discussed, a foreign affairs ministry statement said.

The two sides also exchanged views on important global and regional developments.

The next round of consultations will be convened in Moscow in 2017, the FO spokesman said.

The delegation from Moscow was led by Alexander V. Sternik, Third CIS Department head at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whereas the Pakistani side was led by MOFA Director-General (West Asia) Ahmad Hussain Dayo.

On November 20, a senior Pakistan official said Russia will host first-ever trilateral talks involving Pakistan and China in an effort to crack the Afghan conundrum.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria, the initiative was aimed at bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region at large. The gathering is the transformation in the relationship taking place among the major international players.