Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday spoke to Prime Minister Imran Khan over the phone to discuss at length the emerging political situation in Afghan
istan and bilateral relations, as per the PMO.
PM Imran Khan said Putin that peace and stability in Afghan
istan was much-needed for Pak
istan and important for the region. He said that an inclusive political government was not only beneficial for the region but also coupled with the safety security of Afghans. The prime minister further emphasized that the internat
ional community must stay connected in Afghan
istan to support its people, adding that the world needs to address its humanitarian crisis and ensure economic sustenance.
Prime Minister Khan said Pak
istan attached high importance to the role of the Troika Plus format. He expressed satisfaction over the upward trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations, with increased high-level exchanges and growing cooperation in diverse fields between the two countries. The prime minister reiterated the government’s resolve to strengthen trade relations and bilateral collaboration in the energy sector, including the early realization of the Pak
istan Stream Gas Pipeline Project. Both the leaders agreed to mutually cooperate within the SCO to promote reg
ional peace and security.
During the telephonic conversation, PM Imran Khan also invited Putin to visit Pakistan.
Putin telephones Xi Jinping, talk on preventing ‘spread of instability to adjacent regions’
The Russian president also spoke to his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, on the importance to prevent instability from causing disturbance to other parts of the region, as per a statement from the Kremlin.
In a phone call, the two leaders “expressed their readiness to step up efforts to combat threats of terrorism and drug trafficking coming from the territory of Afghanist
an,221; the Kremlin said.
According to internat
ional media repor
ts, Putin and Xi “agreed to intensify bilateral contacts” and “make the most of the potential” of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that is due to convene for a summit in Tajik
istan next month.
Several ex-Soviet republics in Central Asia — where Moscow holds military bases — share a border with Afghan
istan and China. While Moscow has been quite optimistic about the new leadership in Kabul, Putin has also cautioned the Afghan militia to not enter in neighboring countries as refugees.
The two leaders also talked about the present coronavirus situation, with Jinping saying
that China is ready to work with Russia to deepen cooperation on vaccine development and production and ensure the safety and stability of the global supply chain for vaccines, to protect the lives and health of the two peoples and contribute to the building of a community of common health for mankind.
“Only the wearer knows whether the shoes fit or not,” Xi stressed, saying that it is the people of the two countries who have the most say about which system works in their own country. “As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia should deepen cooperation against interference and firmly hold their respective nat
ional future in their own hands,” Xi said.
He said China strongly stands with Russia in pursuing a development path that suits its nat
ional conditions, and firmly supports Russia’s measures to safeguard its nat
ional sovereignty and security.