Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad on Wednesday to review their bilateral ties and cooperation in energy, health, security, defence, and counterterrorism.
This is Lavrov’s first visit to Pakistan since 2012 and comes just a day after his meeting with Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. He was welcomed by Qureshi at the foreign ministry.
Pleased to welcome Foreign Minister #SergeyLavrov to the Foreign Office today for excellent meetings. Building multi-dimensional relations with Russia is a key priority for Pakistan and we believe a strong relationship contributes to regional stability and global security. pic.twitter.com/3mX6nKT6YT
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 7, 2021
The Russian top diplomat expressed his gratitude to his Pakistani hosts for their hospitality and said that bilateral relations were “constructive and mutually beneficial,” aided by a “trust-based political dialogue” at the high and top levels. “It is gratifying that we have maintained regular contacts despite the coronavirus pandemic,” the minister added.
According to a press release by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the leaders discussed cooperation in energy, including the North-South gas pipeline project from Karachi to Lahore. Lavrov expressed hope that the countries would move forward on this initiative without delay. In terms of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, Lavrov said that Russia had already supplied 50,000 doses of its Sputnik V vaccines to Pakistan, adding that another 150,000 would be delivered soon. The minister said that Moscow stood ready to help the country as much as possible given its needs but noted that the situation depends on Russia’s production capacity, both within and beyond its borders.
During our talks we considered ideas to further promote #EconomicDiplomacy and discussed progress in the area of energy cooperation including the Pakistan-Stream Gas Pipeline project. We reviewed our cooperation in the field of security including counter-terrorism and defence. pic.twitter.com/Y9kbeo0iPb
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 7, 2021
On counterterrorism (CT) efforts, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to continue providing Pakistan with the necessary assistance to enhance and strengthen the country’s CT capabilities, including the supply of relevant military equipment. “We believe that this will be in the interests of all regional countries,” the minister said. The officials also agreed to increase cooperation and coordination on the international stage, at the United Nations (UN) as well as under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
FM #Lavrov and I agreed on the need to promote greater people-to-people contact through greater collaboration across a diversity of fields, including education. We will also be enhancing our cooperation within the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. https://t.co/mXl2Fdzh8C
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 7, 2021
The situation in Afghanistan featured heavily during the talks, and Lavrov said that Russia, too, was “concerned about the aggravation of security problems” in the country, especially the rise in terrorist activity and ISIS strengthening its positions in the north and east. “We agreed to continue working to create conditions for the conflicting sides to find constructive solutions that would allow them to stop the civil war in Afghanistan on the basis of agreements on the establishment of inclusive power structures,” he remarked. Qureshi added that the leaders also discussed “larger questions of peace and security in South Asia,” including the “worsening human rights situation in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”
Following his meeting with FM Qureshi, Lavrov also met with Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, wherein the leaders exchanged views on enhancing defence and security cooperation as well regional issues, especially the Afghan peace process. Lavrov is also expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan during his visit.