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Asia News Network
5 days ago
- Business
- Asia News Network
Russian minister calls Islamabad and Moscow ‘natural allies,' reaffirms bilateral cooperation
ISLAMABAD – Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk on Thursday said Pakistan and Russia were 'natural allies', stressing that Russian President Vladimir Putin views Islamabad as an important strategic partner in the areas of economy and energy, the Foreign Office said in a statement. In recent years, Russia and Pakistan have engaged in strengthening bilateral ties with each other. On June 3, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, reaffirmed Russia's desire to expand cooperation with Pakistan. Moscow's growing engagement with Islamabad — including defence deals, energy cooperation and regular joint military exercises — reflects a strategic shift to diversify partnerships across the region. In a high-level meeting with Ambassador Fatemi and the prime minister's aide on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, in Moscow, the Russian DPM reaffirmed his country's commitment towards deepening bilateral cooperation with Pakistan. 'Characterising Pakistan and Russia as natural allies, [Overchuck] stressed that President Putin considered Pakistan as an important partner in the growth and development of the economy and energy in the region,' the statement said. 'He also highlighted the significance of important connectivity projects between two countries, such as the railway connectivity between Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Russia, and the launching of a pilot cargo train between Pakistan and Russia in August 2025.' During the meeting, Fatemi reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to strengthening relations with Russia, stressing that strong links with the country were a top priority. 'Pakistan views Russia as a stabilising factor in the international arena,' he added, according to the statement. Speaking about the New Steel Mills project in Karachi, SAPM Haroon Akhtar — focal point for the project — said the project carries the legacy of Pakistan's relations with Russia, hailing it as a 'leap forward' for future cooperation and partnership. On May 13, Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement to establish a new steel plant in Karachi, according to a press release from the Press Information Department (PID). The two sides reviewed engagement across all areas of mutual interest, including political, trade and economic cooperation, as well as energy, connectivity, industrial and agricultural cooperation. They also discussed recent geopolitical and regional issues such as the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. During the recent Indian aggression against Pakistan in May, Russia had offered to mediate between the two countries. DPM Overchuk shared that President Putin was in favour of strengthening cooperation with Pakistan across all relevant sectors. He added that President Putin was looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in August in the upcoming SCO-Council of Heads of State in Tainjin, China. In September 2024, Overchuk visited Pakistan, where he met with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar. The two signed
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Russia calls Pakistan key regional partner
ISLAMABAD Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk has stated that Pakistan and Russia are "natural allies" and that President Putin considers Pakistan as an important partner in the growth and development of economy and energy in the region. Overchuk expressed these views on Thursday in a meeting with a high-powered Pakistani delegation led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi in Moscow. SAPM on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khanwho is also the focal person for the Pakistan Steel Mills projectwas also part of the delegation. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, including political, trade and economic cooperation, as well as energy, connectivity, industrial and agricultural cooperation. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Pakistan and Russia agreed to continue mutual cooperation in different fields including political, trade and economic as well as energy sector. SAPM Fatemi underlined that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with the Russian Federation, adding that strengthening relations with the latter was one of Pakistan's foreign policy priorities. He affirmed that Pakistan viewed Russia as a stabilizing factor in the international arena. "President Putin was greatly looking forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the forthcoming SCO-Council of Heads of State in Tianjin, China, in late August this year," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said during the meeting. SAPM Akhtar stated that Pakistan attached high importance to ongoing discussions on the new steel mills in Karachi, as the project carries an important legacy of Pakistan's relations with Russia, that could serve as a "leap forward" symbol of future cooperation and partnership. In 1956, Soviet premier Nikolai Bulganin offered technical and scientific assistance to Pakistan then prime minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and expressed interest in establishing the country's first steel mills. The SAPM gave an overview of the investment-friendly industrial policy of Pakistan, that had ensured macro-economic stability, achieved under the present Government. During the meeting, DPM Overchuk who was assisted by key ministers, recalled his visit to Pakistan in September 2024 and his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the SCO-Heads of Government in Islamabad in October 2024. He also highlighted the significance of important connectivity projects between two countries, such as the railway connectivity between Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Russia, and the launching of pilot cargo train between Pakistan and Russia in August 2025. The two sides also touched upon regional and international issues, such as the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, as well as the bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Russia at all multilateral forums. The visit of the two SAPMs was deeply appreciated by Overchuk, who emphasized that President Putin was strongly in favor of further deepening of cooperation with Pakistan in all important sectors. APP (WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Russian Dy PM tells high-powered body: Putin seeks to deepen trade, energy cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Describing Pakistan and Russia as 'natural allies', Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Overchuk has said that President Vladimir Putin was strongly in favour of further deepening of trade and energy cooperation with Pakistan in all important sectors. He also shared that President Putin was greatly looking forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the forthcoming SCO-Council of Heads of State in Tianjin, China, in late August this year to further bolster bilateral ties. A high-powered Pakistani delegation led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi, as well as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, who is also the focal point for the Pakistan Steel Mills project, called on Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk in Moscow, Thursday. Russia would support Pakistan's inclusion in BRICS, says Russian deputy PM The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson said in a statement that the visit of the two SAPMs was deeply appreciated by the deputy prime minister. Characterising Pakistan and Russia as 'natural allies', Russian DPM stressed that President Putin considered Pakistan as an important partner in the growth and development of economy and energy in the region. He also highlighted the significance of important connectivity projects between two countries, such as the railway connectivity between Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Russia and the launching of pilot cargo train between Pakistan and Russia in August 2025. During the meeting, DPM Overchuk, who was assisted by key ministers, recalled his visit to Pakistan in September 2024 and his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the SCO-Heads of Government in Islamabad in October 2024. The two sides also touched upon regional and international issues, such as the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, as well as the bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Russia at all multilateral forums. At the outset, SAPM Fatemi conveyed greetings and good wishes of Pakistan's leadership to Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk and to the Russian leadership. The SAPM stressed that goodwill at the leadership level was ensuring positive momentum in bilateral ties between the two countries. The two sides also reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, including political, trade and economic cooperation, as well as energy, connectivity, industrial and agricultural cooperation. Furthermore, SAPM Fatemi underlined that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with the Russian Federation, adding that strengthening relations with the latter was one of Pakistan's foreign policy priorities. He affirmed that Pakistan viewed Russia as a stabilising factor in the international arena. During the discussion, Haroon Akhtar conveyed that Pakistan attached high importance to ongoing discussions on the new Steel Mills in Karachi, as the project carried an important legacy of Pakistan's relations with Russia that could serve as a 'leap forward' symbol of future cooperation and partnership. The SAPM gave an overview of the investment-friendly industrial policy of Pakistan that had ensured macro-economic stability, achieved under the present government. Meanwhile, as part of a high-level delegation's two-day official visit to the Russian Federation, SAPM on Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi, met with Russian First Deputy Minister of Energy, Pavel Sorokin, in Moscow. During the meeting, the SAPM expressed satisfaction at the ongoing energy cooperation between the two countries, while confident of further expansion of ties in this vital sector. Additionally, he thanked First Deputy Minister of Energy for Russia's cooperation in ensuring energy security of Pakistan. Recalling his successful visit to Pakistan in February this year, during which he had also called on PM Shehbaz Sharif, Pavel Sorokin acknowledged the good cooperation in energy sector between the two countries. He also pointed out potential areas, such as hydropower, LPG and modernisation of oil refineries, as suitable for future collaboration. He also stated that Russia was looking forward to working closely with Pakistan in the energy sector, which would be an important element in the agenda for the 10th session of Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, scheduled in Islamabad this year. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
