Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. The discussion covered several key issues, including the Middle East situation, counterterrorism, and food security.
Kakar’s meeting with Putin is part of a growing trend, with three Pakistani prime ministers having met the Russian president over the past year. This indicates an expansion of economic and diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were previously considered rivals.
In their meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments, with a focus on the evolving situation in the Middle East. Kakar emphasized the importance of enhanced regional integration for economic development and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Russia in areas such as trade, investment, energy, connectivity, and counterterrorism.
The ongoing collaboration in the oil and gas sector was highlighted, with Pakistan welcoming Russian investment in the energy sector. Pakistan recently received its first shipments of crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas from Russia as part of a deal to address Islamabad’s energy needs.
Both Pakistan and Russia share a common stance on anti-terrorism efforts, which was acknowledged during the meeting.
President Putin expressed Russia’s desire to further enhance cooperation in various sectors with Pakistan, signaling their mutual interest in strengthening their relationship.
The year 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Russia, underscoring the significance of this evolving partnership.
The leaders also discussed food security. Putin mentioned Moscow’s efforts to ensure global food security, possibly referring to the Black Sea grain deal brokered in Istanbul in July 2022, which aimed to restore the flow of essential food products, including wheat, sunflower oil, and fertilizer from Ukraine.
The Black Sea grain deal was a crucial agreement that helped alleviate a global food crisis by reopening key Ukrainian ports for exports. However, Moscow chose not to extend the agreement beyond July 2023 due to issues related to fertilizer exports and the inclusion of the state-owned Russian Agricultural Bank in the SWIFT international payment system.
Furthermore, President Putin mentioned that Moscow has a plan to provide grain free of cost to the poorest nations in Africa, showcasing Russia’s commitment to addressing global food security concerns.
In addition to the meeting with President Putin, Prime Minister Kakar also held discussions with Kenyan President William Ruto to explore ways to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation. During this meeting, Kakar raised the issue of the murder of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, who was killed by Kenyan police in October of the previous year. He requested that the Kenyan president release the report of the joint investigation team of Nairobi police on Sharif’s murder.
The meeting between Prime Minister Kakar and President Putin, as well as the discussions with President Ruto, exemplifies the multifaceted diplomatic and strategic efforts by Pakistan to strengthen its global ties, address pressing issues, and promote cooperation on regional and global challenges.
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