Media Forum in Moscow and Islamabad emphasizes the enhancement of Russia-Pakistan relations.
During the recent Moscow-Islamabad Media Forum in the Russian capital, authorities and experts deliberated on the burgeoning relations between Pakistan and Russia, emphasizing regional security, media collaboration, and information sharing.
The forum was arranged prior to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s imminent visit to Moscow.
In his address at the forum, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, stated that bilateral relations are progressing positively, with both nations eager to enhance collaboration in political, economic, defense, educational, and public domains. He emphasized that several encounters between Prime Minister Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin indicate sustained high-level diplomatic interaction, and the forthcoming visit would represent their fifth notable summit-level engagement.
Ambassador Tirmizi declared that a Pakistan-Russia Business Forum will occur during the Prime Minister’s visit, featuring over 100 Pakistani companies collaborating with Russian counterparts to enhance trade, investment, and energy sector cooperation.
He also acknowledged previous collaboration in disaster relief, including Russia’s prompt assistance following Pakistan’s 2005 earthquake and 2022 floods, along with recent trips by Russian emergency service delegations to Islamabad aimed at enhancing collaborative initiatives in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored the forum’s crucial role in enhancing bilateral relations by convening political leaders, diplomats, and journalists to fortify information and cultural connections.
A spokesperson emphasized that in the contemporary world, information has emerged as a pivotal global force, and access to precise information and transparent discourse fosters a balanced international system conducive to the flourishing of many cultures. Zakharova cautioned that the misuse of information or propaganda could affect political and social stability, highlighting the significance of media platforms such as Moscow-Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Ambassador Albert Khurief stated that the forum offers specialists from both countries a chance to comprehend each other’s viewpoints and interests, facilitating enhanced bilateral collaboration. He emphasized that in a multipolar world characterized by escalating problems like as regional wars, unilateral sanctions, and extremism, partnership between Pakistan and Russia is essential for fostering regional stability, enhancing economic relations, and ensuring mutual advantages.
Geopolitical expert Roksolana Zigon stated that the current collaboration exemplifies a synthesis of public and conventional diplomacy. Although relations varied throughout the Cold War, alterations in the global power equilibrium and regional dynamics have strategically aligned the two nations more closely. She observed that developments in Afghanistan during the early 2010s provide an opportunity to reestablish contacts, resulting in enhanced cooperation across several sectors. Zigon remarked that Pakistan frequently encountered isolation in counterterrorism initiatives, accompanied by adverse storylines in international media that misrepresented the actual situation on the ground.
Additional speakers comprised Senator Mashahid Hussain Syed and Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. The forum was collaboratively organized by the Rossiya Segodnya Media Group, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Associated Press of Pakistan, and additional organizations.