Russian President Vladimir Putin may visit Pakistan soon, according his aide on Afghanistan Zamir N Kabulov.
Kabulov, who held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday, said that Putin is scheduled to discuss a wide range of issues with the Pakistani leadership. Kabulov maintained Putin’s visit will be instrumental in further enhancing cooperation between both countries. Gilani reciprocated the sentiments in the meeting, according to an official in the prime minister’s media centre.
Acknowledging Russia’s strategic role in the region, Gilani said Pakistan viewed it as a source of stability and peace both at a regional and global level. He said Moscow could help resolve the region’s greatest challenges. He expressed keenness to further promote cooperation in the fields of defence, energy, trade and narcotics control.
Welcoming Russian interest in trans-regional energy projects such as the Iran-Pakistan (IP) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline projects and Casa-1000, he especially appreciated previous meetings between the two countries regarding the IP project.
According to the official, the strained Pakistan-US relationship was also discussed in detail during the meeting and the Russian envoy assured Gilani of his country’s all-out support in this regard.
While talking about the efforts to restore normalcy in Afghanistan, Gilani maintained that “Pakistan has made consistent and serious efforts to improve relations with Afghanistan and expects the same from the other side… stability and peace in Afghanistan is important for stability and peace in Pakistan.”
The premier also mentioned that at Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s request, he issued a public appeal on February 24 asking all militant groups to negotiate with the Afghan government.
He notified the Russian delegation that the meeting of the Trilateral Core Group – consisting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US – held last month yielded positive outcomes.
The PM also appreciated Russia’s support to Pakistan in its endeavours to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2012.
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It is vitally important that Russia-Pakistan improve relations because there is no doubt whatsoever that if the existence of Pakistan is threatened the response from Pakistan will be to lay waste to the entire sub-continent if its existence is threatened, Not just India but also Nepal, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan et al, The ultimatum Pakistan presents is simple, If Pakistan goes down, It will take Central, South and South East Asia and probably the Middle East with its 150+ nuclear weapons.
For the first time in history, a people facing possible extermination while the world either cackles or looks away-unlike the Armenians, Tibetans, or Rwandans-have the power to destroy most of the world. The ultimate justice?
Closer relations between Pakistan and Russia can only benefit peace, Unfortunetly Washington is so imbued with Afghanism that it no longer presses the Afghans to come to terms with Pakistan. Surely the authorities in Afghanistan should be pressed to accept Pakistan verbally as much as Afghanistan opposed Pakistan's enterance to the U.N. in 1947, that they renounce claims east of the Durand line in all its forms; and that they seek peace with Pakistan. The Panjsheri leaders of Afghanistan should then be pressured into calling off their economic boycott of Pakistan; Most important of all they should be prodded into ending their permanent state of war against Pakistan, in the form of economic migration, high birth rate, drug, weapons smuggling and focus Afghan efforts instead on extricating Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan where they belong.
Wel Come Russia.
Wel Come Mr President. I must say "PUTIN THE GREAT" .
I agree to SMJ -- new game is about to start in this region -- unfortunately, Shame on Pakistan elite and policy makers who are totally unaware of it....!
That will be strange Pak buying Russian Sukhoi's and India buying US F-22 raptors....?
Top of agenda do more for eliminating support for Cheychan freedom fighter. Russian is a competitor with Pakistan on NATO supply route. They are getting $5000/container. Putin will ask for untendered contract to GAZPROM for TAPI. It will be interesting to see if Pakistan starts buying Russian military equipmen and India buys from US.
@Freedom Seeker: You said - enhance ties with Russia, Iran, and others. I want to know, which countries are included in your '........ and others'. Come on, don't shy. Shyness leads people to nowhere.
new game is about to start in the reigon!
Indians will be burning with jealousy ....
Welcome to Pakistan! :)
Hardly had Putin been sworn in, a visit to Pakistan is already on his agenda. Islamabad must feel flattered. The visit will no doubt be of significance. Russia wants to have stablîty on its southern border. Islamist terrorists and influx of drugs from Afghanistan are of great concern to Moscow. Indeed Islamabad appreciates the Russian envoy's assurance to stand by Pakistan in its strained relationship with the U.S. Although Western forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan in 2014, Russia perceives their futre role in the country with suspicion.
Welcome to the Honorable President, we wish you your brave country men/women all the best. We hope n pray that your visit will help develop strong n respectable relations between our two nations.
How many of our Ministers, MNA's, MPA's, Senator's, General's, children study at Russian universities?? Pakistan's interests are never seen as such, they have always been linked with personal interests. This is a chance to reverse this, lets hope brinkmanship does not spoil it.
Dear All,
It looks that this time Pakistan will be the land of cold war between great nations. Pakistan should pull out from all non sense & crap what ever is going in this region. We should not let now Russia to sneak in, previously we have seen that Saudis, then Americans, Iranians, recently Turkey, not the least China Always....? have lead Pakistan to instability for there own interests.
ISI should not be part of this big game.
Pak should try to have Justice, education, and economy in this homeland.
Back in the 60's and 70's are we? A choice between US and Russia? Hope we make the sane decision of choosing the latter
Pakistan must build strong ties with regional players......instead of appeasing some-one across the globe
@samiullah: you always forget everything for your need at time. and you mean pakistan at the cost of India? and want Russia to strengthen pakistan?
It will be great beginning. Pakistan should focus on regional countries and enhance ties with Russia, Iran, and others. We got nothing but shame, humiliation and destruction from America and Saudi friendship. Its time to change the course and start a new era of relations.
It is time to rebuild broken bridges with Russia. We need understanding and cooperation with regional powers. Welcome Vladimir Putin.
People of balochistan welcome him to balochistan. Russian have helpdd balochis for years. Wd will nevr forget their kindnsss.
we always welcome Russia to forget the past and play an important rule in this region