Imran Khan expressed the hope that the trust and cordiality marking the relationship would translate into further deepening and broadening of mutual cooperation in diverse fields….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is on a two-day visit to Moscow, met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday with a focus on energy and economic cooperation, according to state media, Dawn reported.
The Kremlin said that the two leaders discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia.
In a handout, the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that the two leaders held wide-ranging consultations on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
“Recalling the telephone conversations during the recent months between the two leaders, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the positive trajectory of bilateral relations will continue to move forward in the future,” the handout issued late on Thursday said.
Imran Khan expressed the hope that the trust and cordiality marking the relationship would translate into further deepening and broadening of mutual cooperation in diverse fields.
He also reaffirmed the importance of the Pakistan Stream gas pipeline as a flagship economic project between the two countries and also discussed cooperation on prospective energy related projects.
“The Prime Minister underscored Pakistan’s commitment to [forging] a long-term, multi-dimensional relationship with Russia,” the Pakistan PMO said.
Pak media slam Imran’s visit
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Russia visit is facing heavy backlash from Pakistani media who noted that the visit is to soothe his “hurt ego”, a media report said.
The Pakistani media commented that the invitation to visit Moscow was not extended by President Vladimir Putin but was sought by Pakistan to soothe the hurt ego of Imran Khan, claimed The Geneva Daily.
“Anybody could see the Russia-Ukraine tension escalating to full-blown war. Was Imran Khan not told that he might literally end up in the war theater and it was not wise to be in Moscow at this time? What kind of business could you conduct with Putin at this hour?” the report quoted Murtaza Solangi, a prominent journalist.
The TV panelist Raza Rumi said, “Imran Khan says that he will play his role for friendship between Russia and Ukraine. How Imran Khan, who doesn’t talk to the Opposition in his own country, can speak of reconciliation between other countries?”
Political analysts also pointed out the gaffes by Khan on his earlier bilateral visits and apprehended that he may yet again, embarrass the country in the context of the US-Russia tussle on Ukraine conflict, the report said.
The visit comes amidst a fragile economic and domestic situation in Pakistan. The economy is reeling under severe inflation, rising debt, and poor industrial performance while the Opposition parties are planning a no-confidence motion in a joint fight against Khan’s misgovernance. (IANS/ANI)