Pakistan, Russia discuss steel mill, regional issues in Moscow

ISLAMABAD: Thursday saw Pak-Russia senior diplomatic leadership in key meetings in Kuala Lumpur and Moscow, with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexel Overchuk saying that both countries were ‘natural allies’ and strategic partners in the areas of economy and energy, while Pakistan said it viewed Russia as a stabilising factor in the international arena.

Deputy PM/Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 32nd Asean Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur. “They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the bilateral relations and agreed to meet again next week during the SCO Council of Ministers meeting,” said the Foreign Office in a statement.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi was on his second visit to Moscow, while earlier being in the Russian capital in February. Russian commitment to finalise an agreement in the coming months to build a new steel mills in Karachi and Russia’s surprising, formal recognition of the Taliban regime were some of the topics of discussion between the two sides on Thursday.

However, officially the Foreign Office did not mention Russia’s formal recognition of the Taliban regime at a time when it had been decided that there would be “a regional approach” to such a formal recognition.

Ambassador Fatemi was accompanied by the Prime Minister’s Aide on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, who is also the focal point for the Pakistan Steel Mills project.

Giving details of the meeting between Ambassador Fatemi with the First Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Pavel Sorokin in Moscow, the Foreign Office said the SAPM expressed satisfaction over the ongoing energy cooperation between the two countries, while confident of further expansion of ties in this vital sector.

“He also thanked First Deputy Minister of Energy for Russia’s cooperation in ensuring energy security of Pakistan. Noting the active engagement of governments and private sectors in the field of energy from both sides, the SAPM underlined that energy was one of the key priority areas of cooperation between Pakistan and Russia,” said the statement.

Recalling his “successful” visit to Pakistan in February this year, during which he had also called on Prime Minister 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 modernization of oil refineries, as suitable for future collaboration.

“He also stated that Russia looked 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,” added the statement.

Pakistan after the Moscow meeting said it was “most constructive, as it enabled the two leaders to look at several areas of mutual interest, with emphasis on energy cooperation between the two countries”.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexel Overchuk in his meeting with Pakistan’s delegation pointed out that President Putin considered Pakistan as an important partner in the growth and development of the economy and energy in the region. “He also highlighted the significance of important connectivity projects between two countries, such as railway connectivity between Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Russia, and the launching of a pilot cargo train between Pakistan and Russia in August 2025,” said the Foreign Office statement.

Speaking about the new steel mills project in Karachi, SAPM Haroon Akhtar 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.