- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.1
Alerts
Working together: Pakistan, Russia vow to support Afghan peace initiative
Foreign minister Khar meets Russian counterpart to discuss bilateral cooperation.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks with Hina Rabbani Khar during their meeting in Moscow. PHOTO: AFP
MOSCOW: Pakistan and Russia on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment and support to promote stability and peace in Afghanistan for ‘Afghan-led and Afghan-owned’ efforts for national reconciliation in the country.
During an official visit of Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Russia from February 7 to 9, at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, the two sides expressed deep concerns about the threat of terrorism and drug-related crimes persisting in the region. Khar added that Pakistan had a clear policy to support any Afghan-driven peace initiative.
Khar, on behalf of President Zardari, invited the Russian president to attend the next quadrilateral summit meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Islamabad this year.
According to the foreign office, the two sides held in-depth discussions on a range of bilateral matters, as well as on important regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The two ministers reviewed the progress made on the understanding reached between the leadership of the two countries during President Asif Ali Zardari’s official visit to Moscow in May 2011 and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s meeting with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Heads of Government meeting in November last year.
Taking note of the considerable progress made, both countries agreed that a large potential for enhancing bilateral cooperation still existed, particularly in trade, investment, energy and agriculture.
They also expressed satisfaction on the outcome of the meeting of the Joint Working Group on Energy Cooperation held in Moscow last year. The two sides discussed several concrete proposals including oil exploration, hydropower production/distribution and coal-based power generation projects.
Pakistan welcomed Russia’s willingness to participate in trans-regional energy projects namely, TAPI and CASA-1000. Pakistan also welcomed Russian interest in Thar coal exploration.
The ministers noted with satisfaction that substantial progress has been made towards finalising the proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Expansion and Modernisation of Pakistan Steel Mills, and hoped that other formalities, including financing of the project, will be finalised soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2012.
Reader Comments (33)
Pakistan Latest Stories
Hottie of the week: Imran Abbas
This doe-eyed cutie is the reason Pakistani women have stopped going out on Saturday nights.
CIA will continue drone operations in Pakistan for now: Sources
The US administration's goal would be to transfer the Pakistan drone operations to the military, says official.
Naegleria: KWSB lacks ability to chlorinate water in city outskirts
KWSB says it can't chlorinate water in city outskirts, where most cases of the amoebic infection have been reported.
Raja Pervaiz issues unconditional apology over contempt of court
Former prime minister takes back his letter he had earlier written to the SC for a new inquiry commission.
Imran Khan to leave hospital tomorrow
Imran feeling better, has managed to walk in hospital, says PTI spokesperson.
Thumbprint verification: Caretaker PM orders release of Rs90m for NADRA
According to Khoso, the system will be ready in ten days and thumbprints will be verified.
ECP orders re-election in 2 polling stations of PK-60 Battagram
Re-polling to take place because women voters were barred from voting on May 11.
Promises unfulfilled: NISTE students leave courses prematurely due to unpaid stipends
Most cannot pay transport, living costs, claim money only being ‘paid’ on paper.
Murder: Taxicab driver shot dead
The man embarked in the vehicle and later shot Muhammad Nazir dead and escaped.
Anti-Dengue drive: CDA completes second phase of campaign to destroy breeding sites
Sites identified in F, G, H, I sectors and katchi abadis; stagnant ponds channelised.
Recent Slideshows
More in Pakistan
Mohmand Agency: Two Khasadars killed in mine blast
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2013 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? [email protected]
Good. I like that. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Making friends with powerful neighbours is the best policy, even if they are not next door.
Recommend
Right Work at right time ……….Pakistan need Russian support:)
Recommend
Decades of pro-US policy have landed us nowhere. I think this is a good step. We need to establish good relationships with all neighbors including India otherwise it will create unnecessary space for outsiders meddling in the region.
Recommend
@Falcon:
Yeah I agree with u man……..We should established good relationship with neighbour countries inculding India, Afghan, and Central Asian State:)
Recommend
We should ask Russian to stop NATO supply
We should work together on how to get NATO out of Afghanistan before it drags both countries in its next war on Iran!!
Recommend
@Zahid Aslam:
what abt chechenya…..wht abt your support to anti russian elements…..do you think there is something left tp be discovered !!! Recommend
This is Pakistani foreign policy: US, UK, China, Arabs, India, Afghanistan and full stop. More ‘commas’ are direly needed.
Recommend
I can see future bloc of Russia-China-Pakistan and probably Iran which will be very necessary for regional power and prevent the western imperialistic designs
Recommend
Brilliant! We appreciate that Russia has defended Pakistan, the same way it has defended Iran! Thank God there a powerful country in the east as well, it keeps things more balanced!
Recommend
Now they are moving in the right direction. Salams to Pakistan
Recommend
Every one knows she is just a show piece minister real power is somewhere else.
Recommend
China and now Russia, both are in our pocket
Recommend
Russians do not have a short memory, they have not forgotten Pakistan’s role against the Soviets in Afghanistan.
However had you Pakistanis may try, Russia will always treat Pakistan as an American trojan horse, and will never cross its own redline with pakistan.Recommend
Russian and Chinese support for Pakistan is very important but what’s the secret behind these growing relations? Pakistan and Russia getting closer because http://707monty.blogspot.com/2011/11/russia-and-pakistan-getting-closer-why.html
Recommend
We must get rid of American shackles and focus more attention on the countries in our neighbourhood.Recommend
China and Russia helped us to build our own assets like Pakistan Steel Mill, Gawadar Port etc.
Can anybody count the number of assets in which US helped us sincerely to bring a change in the economy and public sector? I think NRO is on the top of the list…
Recommend
@A2Z:
do some research on the effect of Chinese influence n pakistan economy
Recommend
This is the step which Bhutto sahab was talking as a foreign minister. He tried to push Pakistan toward the Russian bloc rather than pushing forward to American bloc, which would not survive Pakistan’s expectations. Bhutto Sahab’s that step brought us in the Pak Steel. Khar is going well.
Recommend
@Naveeda Shaikh: Good thing that Bhutto “Sahaab” did not succeed in this even if he tried which I suspect to be factually incorrect. After all it was the Russians who encouraged and backed the Indians to dismember Pakistan and it’s too recent for Bhutto to forgive them and forget what they did to hurt us and the very basis of our creation (the country for the Muslims of the united India). Two nation theory proved wrong and we are struggling with various disgruntled “nationalities” since then in what’s left of Pakistan (Baloch nationalism and so on).
Recommend
@Zeta
Unless Pakistan does a better job of controlling Muslim extremist I suspect your more likely to see a coalition between India, Russia, China and the USA to contain Pakistani militants who are destabilizing the region.
Recommend
@Cautious:
China wouldn’t even cosider any kind of defense partnership with india unless you release Arunachal Pradesh and solve other disputes. Russians knows that your india is fastly becoming a major US client state in the region and thus making your partnership with Russia somewhat salty.
The question of “muslim extremism” isn’t major concern or barrier in any future developments of the parties mentioned i mentioned. Its only the indian and american obsessiveness with this thing. Extremism will itself sorted out in some years of training and development unlike your kind theory of unleashing war on terrorism.
Recommend
except for Pakistan’s delusive mind, there is no news in this article to start with,as Putin mentioned there isn’t going to be any strategic partnership with pakistan in near future.Russians are more vindictive than yanks when you mess with them,FYI both Russia and India wanted to contain china By hook or by crook so which keeps them fairly in the US camp on Afghanistan.it’s better for pakistan to mend their relations with US first before they start anymore nonstarters.
Recommend
Some amazing foreign policy analysts we have here. Unbelievably smart. First of all Pakistanis have not forgotten Russia’s strong role in the brealing off of east Pakistan, they have always favored Indian interests over Pakistan and Iranian interests over the rest of the region. What people also seem to have forgotten is the large public support for Afghanistan, and ill feelings for the oppression and cruelty russia has been putting surrounding republics through namely chechnya and dagestan. We the people refuse to compromise over innocent muslim bloodshed russia continues even til this day. Allah is sufficient for this nation.Recommend
@A2Z:
Can anybody count the number of assets in which US helped us sincerely to bring a change in the economy and public sector?
Pakistani assets built with US money and help: Indus Basin project (most canals constructed until 1970s), Tarbela dam, Mangla dam, Guddu barrage, Pakistan’s green revolution (revamping and increasing agricultural productivity), a number of WAPDA power plants, International Irrigation Management Institute, numerous Pakistani highways (particularly in KP and Balochistan), …
I could go on but the list is too long. You should do some research…
Recommend
@Uza Syed:
Nothing is permanent in International relations, Old foes can become new friends thats how nations grow. But seems like you are stuck in the past, you are still ruing the two nation theory, You should learn to move on and accept the change.
Recommend
hahaha… why my pakistani brothers are so emotional over foreign relations :)) .
china will not do this…russia should do this…usa is loosing….now wwiii…. :P
Recommend
Do GOP expect that Russians have forgotten that Pakistanis joined USA in chasing Russians out of Afganistan. Now they want Russia to join them in dealing with America in Afganistan. Some cheek!
Recommend
Russians are so hot. But it’s really cold in Russia. Point being, anomaly’s exist, even in international relations.
Recommend
@wasim: It’s not the ‘two nation theory’ that’s of any consequence anymore, here you are threatened by split into many nations right here among us. I can’t imagine any great advantages of moving towards Russians at this stage when they themselves are dependant on the West for their continuity.
Recommend
Hmmm…I thought Pakistan was a leader of the islamic world and a fortress of Islam. Why are they working with Russia which murders Muslims whole sale in chechniya? Maybe Pakistan does not have any values at all and the “fortress of Islam” talk is all empty. On the Russian side, have they forgotten pakistans jihad against soviet union in Afghanistan? What this report outlines is that there is no shame or wrongs in international relationships. Anything and everything is allowed as long as it benefits the parties concerned.
Recommend
Though late but not too late. Right step at right direction.
Recommend
@ zeta: “china wouldn’t even consider any kind of defence parntership with india unless you release Arunachal Pradesh and solve other disputes “……….dear zeta, chinese made J-7 is Russian Mig-21, J-11 is Sukhoi-27, even their ow designed J-10 and JF-17 using Russian Mikoyan (MIG) engine and avionics. their main frontline fighter plane is Russian Sukhoi-30.India have more advanced sukhoi-30MKI. we don’t need any chinese toys only pakistan could buy chinese crap.Recommend
Right decision to look east. And I may say it will help to form a block of economic power in east. After all US is going down and down in all front.
Recommend