As soon as Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan touched down in Moscow for his two-day visit to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a video recording showed him telling Russian officials that his visit overlapped with a time of “excitement.” “What a time I have come… so much excitement,” Khan said. His comments sparked controversy, as they were made just hours after Putin declared war on Ukraine and major Ukrainian cities like its capital Kyiv, Kramatorsk, Odessa, Kharkob, and Berdyansk reported incidents of gunshots and explosions.
#Kremlin: Vladimir Putin met with Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, who is in Russia on a working visit https://t.co/jrvKVN0fzX pic.twitter.com/WF7aupsZau
— President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) February 24, 2022
Khan has drawn criticism for visiting Russia at this time, particularly from the West, led in large part by the United States (US). While addressing the ongoing military tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, PM Khan expressed his support for “dialogue and diplomacy,” underscoring that such conflicts are detrimental to the interests of all parties, before adding that developing countries are always the most affected by such situations.
Imran Khan in Russia as Russia invades Ukraine: What a time I have come, so much excitement pic.twitter.com/9T3SuU9KFA
— Yusuf Unjhawala 🇮🇳 (@YusufDFI) February 24, 2022
The primary focus of Khan’s meeting with Putin was the $2.5 billion North-South gas pipeline project that Pakistan has been seeking to build in collaboration with Russian companies. According to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, “The Prime Minister reaffirmed the importance of Pakistan-Stream Gas Pipeline as a flagship economic project between Pakistan and Russia and also discussed cooperation on prospective energy-related projects.”
Speaking about Khan’s visit, Pakistani Energy Minister Hammad Azhar said that the trip would provide an “opportunity” to learn the Russian technology on laying a gas pipeline. “We don’t have the expertise of the scale and size that is needed for this project… The project will remain majority-owned [74 percent] by Pakistan to begin with, so it could be a win-win,” he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Valentinovich Novak and Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Mr. Nikolay Shulginov calls on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI along with delegation#PMIKInRussia pic.twitter.com/aosvW2zrTV
— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) February 24, 2022
The North-South gas project is a 1,110-kilometre pipeline that is intended to be jointly funded by both countries in pursuance of a 2015 agreement. The project, which will be developed by Russian companies, would facilitate the transport of imported Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from the coastal region of Karachi to the landlocked Punjab state. However, the project has been delayed due to sanctions imposed by the US and other Western allies on Russian companies.
However, given that Germany, the largest consumer of Russian gas, has halted the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, it is possible that Russia could accelerate discussions with Pakistan as it looks for alternative importing countries. Pakistan is sure to welcome such a development, given that it has struggled with its own domestic gas supplies and become increasingly reliant on imported LNG.
Khan and Putin also discussed the Afghan crisis, wherein the pair agreed to “work with the international community for a stable, peaceful and connected Afghanistan.” Khan also informed the Russian President about the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir, which he said were “detrimental to regional peace and stability.” Khan, for his part, emphasised on the need to push for a peaceful resolution.
In his meetings with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Minister of Energy Nikolay Shulginov, Khan talked about energy cooperation and informed them about the latest reforms he has undertaken to improve the business environment in Pakistan. To this end, he welcomed the Russian business community to invest in the country’s various sectors.