Putin terms Pakistan, Russia ties ‘truly friendly’

ISLAMABAD: Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken of positive trajectory in Pakistan and Russian ties as he has termed “these relations are truly friendly.”

Pakistan’s embassy in Moscow has shared the views on Tuesday, articulated by Russian president during his meeting with Pakistan’s new ambassador Khalid Jamali, who submitted his credential to the president at Kremlin. While terming he ties as truly, Russian president recalled his meeting with Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar with whom he had meeting in Beijing in an international forum.

President Putin reminded that “this year, Russia and Pakistan celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. These relations are truly friendly, as confirmed by our meeting in October in Beijing with caretaker prime minister of Pakistan. Mutual trade is developing dynamically, mutually beneficial cooperation is maintained in a number of sectors of the economy, including energy and agriculture.

Partnership interaction between our two countries is carried out through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), as well as within the framework of mechanisms to promote the Afghan settlement, such as the Moscow format of consultations and the regional Quartet.

Diplomatic sources told The News that Russia is keen to enhance trade with Pakistan. Moscow has encouraged private sector’s visit to Russia not for traditional trades but for the spheres where the two countries haven’t entered in two-way trade as yet. The delegations that visited Rusia recently found the ambiance encouraging for promotion of business. “Moscow is prepared to receive more such delegations from Pakistan which would help in strengthening economic ties,” the sources said.

Pakistan’s new envoy for Moscow Khalid Jamali has initiated working closely with the authorities concerned in Russian capital for increasing trade ties which have enormous scope, the sources maintained. The sources hinted that Russia has been working proactively to smoothen the affairs regarding Afghanistan.

“The Moscow efforts are yielding outcome,” the sources said. China is also playing an important role in the efforts. Russia’s new ambassador for Pakistan Albert Khorev, who was Deputy Director on Afghanistan Affairs in Russian Foreign Office, is also arriving Islamabad early next month to assume his assignment. He is fluent in languages spoken in Afghanistan and has inkling of Urdu as well. He too will play significant diplomatic role pertains to Afghanistan; the sources added.