ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said onSaturday that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia next week wouldprove to be a “game-changer”.
The Pakistani prime minister is scheduled to visit Russia later this month.Khan will be the first Pakistani prime minister to visit Russia in 23years.
Nawaz Sharif, who was disqualified for prime minister’s office in 2017 andis now living in a self-imposed exile in London, was the last Pakistaniprime minister to visit Moscow in 1999.
“After 23 years, a Pakistani leader has been invited to Moscow,” Hussaintold reporters. “You will find very few examples [of leaders] who have beengiven the respect that President Putin has extended to Prime Minister ImranKhan. This visit will prove to be a game-changer.”
Hussain said Pakistan was about to establish “very stable” relations withRussia, like the ties it enjoys with neighbouring China. Praising the primeminister, Hussain said the world listens to Khan’s views on Islamophobiaand other important issues.
Khan’s upcoming visit to Russia holds special importance as Pakistan andRussia had developed a bitter rivalry during the Cold War days after theSoviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Pakistan supported the United Statesduring that period and assisted Afghan resistance factions with theirguerrilla warfare.
The two sides have tried to broaden and deepen their relations in recentyears, with Russia lifting a decades old arms embargo in 2014.
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Pakistan’s increased diplomatic engagements with Russia are said to be partof its quest to diversify its foreign policy.
Last year, the two countries formally signed an amended inter-governmentalagreement for a flagship pipeline project due to be carried out by Russiawhich would join Pakistan’s Punjab province with the Karachi port city.
The project was earlier known as the North-South Pipeline, though it is nowcalled the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline Project which will deliver importedliquefied natural gas (LNG) from Pakistan’s coastal regions to industrialareas in Punjab.
The initiative has remained on hold since 2015 due to disagreements overfees and United States’ sanctions against the Russian state conglomerateRostec.
In September 2021, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Pakistanand held wide-ranging talks that covered bilateral relations and regionaland global issues.
