[ad_1]
ISLAMABAD: As the world watched with concern Russia raining missiles on Ukraine on Thursday, Pakistan PM Imran Khan sat down to discuss bilateral ties and global issues with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, including alleged human rights violations in J&K.
Imran’s Moscow visit, observers say, has put Islamabad in a tricky situation when it comes to balancing its important economic and strategic relationship with the West vis-à-vis Russia.
Members of the PM’s team in Moscow said he and Putin reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including economic and energy cooperation, particularly the Pakistan Stream gas pipeline. “The Prime Minister reaffirmed the importance of the gas pipeline as a flagship economic project between Pakistan and Russia, and also discussed cooperation on prospective energy-related projects,” read an official statement issued after the meeting.
In the regional context, according to the handout, Khan underlined the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis and preventing potential economic meltdown in Afghanistan. “The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan would continue to work with the international community for a stable, peaceful and connected Afghanistan. In this regard, he underscored the ongoing cooperation and coordination between Pakistan and Russia at various international and regional fora, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).”
On the situation in South Asia, the statement said Imran highlighted the alleged human rights abuse in J&K and underscored the imperative of peaceful resolution of the dispute. He also focused on the developments “detrimental to regional peace and stability” and stressed the need for measures that would help keep the regional balance.
Imran, according to the statement, rued the latest situation involving Russia and Ukraine and said Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict. “The PM stressed that conflict was not in anyone’s interest, and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically in case of conflict.”
Imran, officials said, also expressed concern over rising trends of extremism and Islamophobia in the world. He emphasised the need for interfaith harmony and coexistence, they said.
Imran’s Moscow visit, observers say, has put Islamabad in a tricky situation when it comes to balancing its important economic and strategic relationship with the West vis-à-vis Russia.
Members of the PM’s team in Moscow said he and Putin reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including economic and energy cooperation, particularly the Pakistan Stream gas pipeline. “The Prime Minister reaffirmed the importance of the gas pipeline as a flagship economic project between Pakistan and Russia, and also discussed cooperation on prospective energy-related projects,” read an official statement issued after the meeting.
In the regional context, according to the handout, Khan underlined the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis and preventing potential economic meltdown in Afghanistan. “The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan would continue to work with the international community for a stable, peaceful and connected Afghanistan. In this regard, he underscored the ongoing cooperation and coordination between Pakistan and Russia at various international and regional fora, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).”
On the situation in South Asia, the statement said Imran highlighted the alleged human rights abuse in J&K and underscored the imperative of peaceful resolution of the dispute. He also focused on the developments “detrimental to regional peace and stability” and stressed the need for measures that would help keep the regional balance.
Imran, according to the statement, rued the latest situation involving Russia and Ukraine and said Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict. “The PM stressed that conflict was not in anyone’s interest, and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically in case of conflict.”
Imran, officials said, also expressed concern over rising trends of extremism and Islamophobia in the world. He emphasised the need for interfaith harmony and coexistence, they said.
[ad_2]
Source link