Islamabad seeks increased Russian oil imports amid Hormuz crisis, says Pakistan's envoy to Russia

Says, 'We are now also considering building a pipeline from Central Asia and Russia at some point'

Pakistan's Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said on Tuesday that Pakistan planned to increase oil imports from Russia due to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, as "Islamabad is looking for alternatives."

During an interview with the Russian news agency TASS, the envoy stated that demand for Russian energy resources had surged amid the crisis around the strategic waterway.

"We produce about 10% of the energy resources we need ourselves, while the rest is imported, mainly from the Persian Gulf countries. A serious crisis has arisen, and that is why we began to look for alternatives," he said.

At some point, he said, alternative pipelines from Turkmenistan and Russia to South Asia would also be discussed.

The opening of the Strait of Hormuz is the main topic in the negotiations around Iran, Pakistani Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi told TASS in an interview:https://t.co/9KlgqvUg62 pic.twitter.com/uBuPnOOZJd

— TASS (@tassagency_en) May 12, 2026

Tirmizi further said that "the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has become a worrying signal for a number of countries, including Pakistan," adding, "Of course, Russia is a major supplier of both oil and energy resources."

The envoy said that Islamabad was even looking beyond Pakistan. "We are now also considering building a pipeline from Central Asia and Russia at some point. This could mean connecting the Eurasian space through roads, railways, pipelines, humanitarian contacts, and academic ties," he said, adding, "This is what we are truly striving for now."

Regarding the opening of the strait, Tirmizi said that it remained the main topic in negotiations surrounding Iran. "The most pressing issue right now is the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which wasn't even on the table at the beginning," he said.

Further, the envoy noted that 22% of the world's oil, along with LNG, fertilisers, and raw materials for fertiliser production, passes through the waterway. He added that around 30 million expatriates reside in the Persian Gulf region, with Indians making up the largest group, numbering about 10 million, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Sri Lankans, Nepalese, and people from African and Latin American countries.

"In other words, a great many people live in this part of the world. Large volumes of remittances also flow from the Persian Gulf countries to these nations. Therefore, we will likely be able to bring this entire conflict to a peaceful settlement," Tirmizi told Tass.

Read More: Pakistan dangerously dependent on imported oil

Oil prices have continued to surge in the country since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, prompting the Islamic Republic to virtually shut the waterway for commercial traffic and shipping. Many operators have also rerouted ships or avoided the Gulf due to the prevailing security situation, signal jamming, and uncertainty over passage conditions.