Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday underlined his government’s intent to expand cooperation with Russia, as he held talks with President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
During their meeting, Sharif acknowledged Moscow’s close relations with New Delhi but stressed that Islamabad values its independent partnership with Russia. “We respect your ties with India, but we also want to build a robust relationship with Russia that will serve as complementary and beneficial for regional prosperity,” Sharif said, describing Putin as a “dynamic leader” guiding their cooperation in the right direction.
The Pakistani leader outlined a wide-ranging agenda for collaboration, citing opportunities in trade connectivity, energy, agriculture, defense, artificial intelligence, investment, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. He also expressed gratitude for Russia’s support, calling it a balancing force in regional politics.
According to Russian state media, President Putin welcomed the growing momentum in bilateral relations and underscored the importance of working together within platforms like the SCO to enhance security and stability across Asia.
Both leaders exchanged views on pressing global and regional issues, including the situations in South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Ukraine. They also discussed multilateral cooperation and long-standing global concerns such as the conflicts in Palestine and Kashmir.
Sharif accepted Putin’s invitation to visit Russia in November to participate in an upcoming SCO heads of government meeting, saying he looked forward to further advancing ties.
Pakistan and Russia, once on opposite sides during the Cold War, have significantly reshaped their relationship in recent years, steadily building cooperation across multiple sectors. The latest meeting is seen as a step toward consolidating this progress and charting a long-term roadmap for deeper engagement.
In addition to his talks with Putin, Sharif also met Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon in Beijing. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the state of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in areas of shared interest.
