ISLAMABAD: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajikistan President Emomalii Rahmon and Afghan President Hamid Karzai will visit Pakistan in the first week of October next for three days. They will be reaching here on October 2 and will have bilateral talks with the host leadership besides attending quadrilateral summit of Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Afghanistan scheduled for October 2 and 3. President Putin’s maiden visit to Pakistan will be creating history as Moscow and Islamabad are planning to develop new bonds of ties. Well placed sources told The News that the quadrilateral summit will go a long way for the economic collaboration of the member countries and they will extend their hand of cooperation towards each other for the benefit of their people. The visit of the Russian president will have far reaching impact in the region. Russia has traditionally been ally of India and New Delhi has gone close to Washington.. The sources pointed out that Pakistan and Russian Federation would ink a number of agreements pertaining to mutual cooperation in various fields, including expansion of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). It will help in enhancing the production of the PSM to three million tonnes per year. The two countries had already held bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest covering enhanced cooperation between the two countries for BMRE (Balancing, Modernization, Revamping and Expansion) of the PSM and its capacity expansion. The two countries have already concluded an understanding about it. The Production Ministry has been engaged with its counterpart Russian Federation Ministry to finalize modalities with regard to the BMRE and capacity expansion of PSM with the approval of the cabinet. The situation in Afghanistan will also come up for discussions during the visit of the three heads of state. The visiting dignitaries will have detailed discussions with the leadership in Pakistan. The government has decided to provide opportunity to the opposition leaders to have interaction with President Putin and other heads of states. Foreign Secretary Syed Jalil Abbas Jailani who visited Russia early this month for discussions in Moscow regarding the visit of President Putin, is hopeful for opening up new vistas of in the ties of the two countries which had uneven record of relations. The visit of President Putin will pave the way for the return visit of leaders from Pakistan.