Russian interior minister arrives in Pakistan on maiden visit

Russia's Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a maiden four-day visit at the invitation of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the interior ministry said.

In a post on X, the interior ministry stated that this was the "first visit to Pakistan by any Russian Interior Minister".

The ministry further said that Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry "warmly" welcomed Kolokoltsev upon his arrival in Islamabad.

"During the Russian Interior Minister's visit to Pakistan, important discussions will take place on bilateral relations and promoting mutual cooperation. The Russian Interior Minister will hold important meetings with Pakistani leadership during his visit," it added.

Read: FM Dar welcomes 'positive momentum' in Islamabad-Moscow relations

The visit comes in the backdrop of the Moscow Format's eighth meeting held on October 5, which brought together senior representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Iran, India and Central Asian states to discuss Afghanistan's political, security and economic situation, including counterterrorism and regional connectivity.

Russia's special presidential envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, confirmed that the dispute between the Pakistani and Afghan delegations prevented the participants from adopting the final document.

The failure to forge a regional consensus was accompanied by unusually strong Russian support for the Taliban government. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who opened the meeting, praised the Taliban's performance since its return to power in 2021 and described it as a "national government".

Read More: Pakistan, Taliban clash at Moscow talks

Russia has already gone further than other major powers in its engagement with Kabul. Moscow formally recognised the Taliban administration in 2025, making it the first country to do so.

The Russian position at the Moscow meeting therefore stood in marked contrast to Pakistan's emphasis on the Taliban's links with terrorist groups operating against Pakistan.

On August 18, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar met with Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev in Islamabad and welcomed the positive momentum in Islamabad-Moscow relations.

On June 9, Energy Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari confirmed that Pakistan and Russia had agreed to sign an Economic Cooperation Programme extending through 2030. Leghari also stated that a recently signed “readmission agreement” was expected to facilitate improved visa arrangements and strengthen people-to-people contacts.