Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Saturday, expressing gratitude for Russia's "positive neutrality" during the recent escalation between India and Pakistan.
The 40-minute bilateral meeting took place ahead of a broader gathering at the Eurasian Forum, where leaders from China, Turkiye, South Korea, and Cambodia were also in attendance.
Senator Mushahid, who was invited as the only Pakistani representative, delivered a keynote address at the forum, where he highlighted Pakistan's desire for regional peace and greater Eurasian cooperation.
During the meeting, Senator Mushahid expressed appreciation for Russia's stance of "positive neutrality" during the rising tensions between India and Pakistan. This neutrality stood in stark contrast to the escalating military operations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Russian FM
The discussion at the Eurasian Forum took a sharp turn when Lavrov condemned Western military alliances in Asia.
He specifically targeted India's growing involvement in the US-led Quad, which includes Australia, Japan, and the United States. Lavrov's criticism of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which India is increasingly part of, was pointed: "This Indo-Pacific had never existed — NATO made up this term to drag India into their anti-China schemes," he said.
Lavrov's words struck a nerve with the 12-member Indian delegation, which was present at the forum. The Indian representatives, including members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), were notably silent as Lavrov criticised joint military exercises within the Quad.
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