Islamabad recognises Moscow’s role in global, regional affairs: Asif

'Pakistan regards Russia’s growing power as positive development for strategic stability in multi-polar world'

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has said that Islamabad recognises Moscow’s role in global as well as regional affairs.

“Russia is an important country and Pakistan regards its growing power as a positive development for strategic stability in a multi-polar world,” Asif said during a meeting with his Russian counterpart on Thursday.

The defence minister is currently heading a high-level Pakistani delegation in Moscow to attend VI Moscow conference on International Security. Expressing hope that his visit would further strengthen the enhancing defence relations between the two countries, Asif emphasised on the need to encourage and enhance Russian Navy’s participation in joint exercises with Pakistan Navy.



Delivering a speech during the opening ceremony of the international security conference on Wednesday, the defence minister stressed the importance to manage shared challenges including terrorism, socioeconomic inequality, climate change, demography as well as the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Africa.

Mentioning the Kashmir dispute, Asif said it was a strategic flashpoint in south Asia and if left unresolved, it had a potential to threaten stability and peace of the entire region.