Putin offers Shehbaz gas to strengthen ties.

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Samarkand on Thursday, highlighting that despite the change of administration in Islamabad, both sides are eager to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Shehbaz is in Samarkand for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference and has met with various member states.

However, his meeting with Russian President Putin was considered as the primary highlight in the aftermath of domestic turmoil following Imran Khan's resignation in April via a vote of no confidence.

The meeting was notable considering that former Prime Minister Imran Khan blamed his ousting in April on a US-backed plan to pursue tight relations with Moscow.

Washington was unhappy with Imran's choice to visit Moscow in February, when Putin was poised to invade Ukraine. Russia had invaded Ukraine just hours before his meeting with Putin in the Kremlin.

The deposed prime minister later claimed, using a diplomatic cable, that the US had warned him that if a motion of no confidence failed, Pakistan would face severe consequences.

Imran further alleged that he was deposed because he refused to accept US dictates on foreign policy matters.

However, Shehbaz's meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit shows that Pakistan is not abandoning Russia and is maintaining a careful balance in its relations with both Washington and Moscow.

Long before Imran came to office, the two erstwhile Cold War adversaries sought reconciliation. The two countries agreed to put their terrible pasts behind them and embrace new realities.

As Russia's long-standing strategic partner, India, built tight connections with the United States, both Moscow and Islamabad attempted to broaden their choices.

The Russian media blamed the US for Imran's demise, but in a meeting with Shehbaz, Putin suggested that he was eager to cooperate with the incoming government in Islamabad.

According to the Russian official news agency RIA, President Putin told Prime Minister Shehbaz that gas supplies to Pakistan were doable, and that some of the required infrastructure was already in place.

From Samarkand, a Pakistani official who was part of the PM's entourage told The Express Tribune that the discussion was "warm, courteous, and fruitful."

While asking anonymity, the official stated that there were several potential for both parties to enhance their collaboration.

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and shared perspectives on regional and international concerns.

The prime minister thanked President Putin for Russia's show of sympathy and assistance for the people of Pakistan impacted by the devastating floods. The prime minister also discussed the devastation caused by this climate-related disaster.

The prime minister expressed delight with the continuous expansion of Pakistan-Russia ties, which were characterised by strong mutual trust and understanding.

The prime minister underlined Pakistan's commitment to working closely with Russia to deepen and improve bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including food security, commerce and investment, energy, defence, and security.

It was resolved to have the next Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) meeting in Islamabad as soon as possible.

The prime minister praised Russia's positive participation in Afghanistan, saying that both Pakistan and Russia had major stakes in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

The prime minister stressed the need of increasing international participation in Afghanistan and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to supporting all regional and international efforts to stabilise the country.

On the first day in Samarkand, Prime Minister Shehbaz met with various foreign leaders, including Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, another US adversary.

Back-to-back encounters with Washington's foes, Russian and Iranian leaders, demonstrate Pakistan's efforts to maintain a balanced foreign policy.

Meanwhile, Shehbaz met with Tajikistan's Emomali Rahmon, Uzbekistan's Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Belarus' Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko. He will also meet the Presidents of China and Turkey.