PM Khan seeks ‘close coordination’ with Russia over Afghanistan in phone call with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan leave after posing for a photo prior to a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Bishkek on June 14, 2019. (AFP/File)

• The prime minister emphasizes the importance of mutual consultations between the two countries during Putin’s second phone call to him in weeks
• Pakistan praises relations with Russia in an official statement, saying they are on ‘an upward trajectory’ due to convergence of interests

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday emphasized the significance of mutual consultations between Pakistan and Russia while discussing the emerging situation in Afghanistan with President Vladimir Putin, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
This was the second phone call between the two leaders in the last few weeks. Previously, the Russian president contacted Khan on August 25 to discuss the developments in Afghanistan and focus on other areas of bilateral and regional interests.
Khan reiterated that the international community should continue to engage with Afghanistan since it would be disastrous to abandon its people at such an important historical juncture.
“The Prime Minister stressed that close coordination and consultations between Pakistan and Russia on the evolving situation in Afghanistan were of crucial importance,” said the official statement.
It added that Khan underscored “the urgent need for provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and the imperative of averting an economic crisis [in that country].”
Pakistan and Russia also plan to build an 1,100-kilometer-long gas pipeline between the southern port city of Karachi and Kasur in Punjab province. The project is expected to ensure smooth delivery of 12.4 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to the country’s industrial region and is likely to cost $2.5 billion.
The PMO said the prime minister also reaffirmed his government’s resolve “for early realization of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline Project.”
“Relations between Pakistan and Russia have been on an upward trajectory propelled by converging views on important regional and international issues, growing trust, and increasing bilateral cooperation manifested by recent high-level interactions,” the official statement said.
The prime minister emphasized strengthening trade and investment along with energy cooperation with Russia was important for his country.
He also invited President Putin to visit Pakistan who renewed his invitation to Khan to undertake a visit to Russia.