Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan’s visit to Russia would prove to be a game-changer move and open new cooperation paths.
There will be the first such high-level visit by a Pakistani premier to Russia in over two decades.
According to Pakistan foreign office, “Khan will visit Moscow on February 23-24 at the invitation call from President Vladimir Putin.”
As per the ministry of foreign affairs, “PM Khan will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, and the bilateral summit will be the highlight of the visit.
The two leaders will discuss the bilateral ties between the two nations during the meeting, and concerns will be much on energy cooperation. They will also have a wide range of views on major regional and international issues, including Islamophobia and Afghanistan.
Pakistani premier’s visit comes amid surging tensions around the Russia-Ukraine border. However, Pakistani officials are optimistic that PM Khan’s visit will help nourish Russia’s relationship.
As per the foreign minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, “The visit will open up new avenues of cooperation” for both nations as our relations with Russia have gradually improved.”
Analysts said that PM Khan’s Russia visit comes after a successful visit to Beijing, strengthening Pakistan’s ties with regional powers.
Pakistan and Russia have recently made an announcement about the initiatives to empower trade cooperations as Moscow aspires to expand its economic footprints in Asia, and Islamabad is looking for energy suppliers to meet its economic goals. Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russia witnessed an increase hitting an all-time high of $790 million in 2020.
