Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi held a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Pakistan considered Russia an important partner and desired to forge a long-term and multi-dimensional partnership with Russia, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The two foreign ministers discussed several common and regional issues and agreed to take forward the important bilateral agenda and close cooperation.
The two diplomats also discussed the Afghanistan peace process and recent positive developments. Foreign Minister Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process and underlined Pakistan’s positive contribution to the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement. He emphasized the importance of inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations as the only way to build durable peace and security in the country.
Pakistan and Russia agreed on maintaining close consultations as part of regional efforts to support the Afghan peace process.
Discussing the COVID-19 response, they also exchanged views about the socio-economic ramifications about the pandemic.
Foreign Minister Qureshi offered condolences on the loss of precious lives in Russia due to the pandemic whereas Foreign Minister Lavrov expressed solidarity with Pakistan in its efforts to combat the outbreak.
The Foreign Minister apprised his Russian counterpart of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for “Global Initiative on Debt Relief” for developing countries. The Russian Foreign Minister expressed support for debt relief initiative and assured to play a positive role.
Mr. Qureshi also expressed Pakistan’s concern over the continuing double lockdown as well as the intensification of the military crackdown by Indian occupation forces and attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory in Jammu and Kashmir.