ISLAMABAD – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has extended aninvitation to his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to visitMoscow.
The development comes as leader of former ruling PTI claimed that theRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov refused to meet Bilawal BhuttoZardari during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Uzbek capital.
Opposition leaders commented on the matter over no bilateral meetingbetween Pakistani and Russian diplomats at the sidelines of regional forum.
The PPP leader held bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of othercountries except his Indian and Russian counterparts at a time when theruling coalition is trying to maintain a balance in its ties betweenKremlin and Washington.
However, the official invitation extended by Russian diplomat during hascleared the air.
Reports in local media suggest that Bilawal and Lavrov were scheduled tomeet however the late arrival of Lavrov to Tashkent led to the cancellationof the meeting.
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The Pakistani minister also avoided any interaction with his Indiancounterpart S Jaishankar despite being spotted in a frame sitting with allmembers on sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization moot.
Earlier, Imran Khan led PTI has slammed the incumbent government forfollowing commands of bosses in Washington as compared to previousgovernment who continue to seek a cooperative relationship with Moscow.
Interestingly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov congratulated PPPchairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on taking oath as the country’s ForeignMinister and expressed desire to take steps to strengthen the bilateralties.
On the other hand, Russia also slammed Washington for attempt of ‘shamelessinterference’ in the internal affairs of Pakistan as former premier blamedBiden led administration for his ouster accusing it of a ‘regime changeconspiracy’.
