Khawaja Asif jets off to Russia on four-day visit

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday headed to Russia on a four-day visit to discuss regional security and other issues of mutual interest with the Russian leadership.

The foreign minister embarked on the trip to Russia at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

During his stay in Moscow, he will hold official talks with Russian foreign minister Lavrov.

His visit coincides with the plenary sessions of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global anti-money laundering watchdog, ongoing in Paris to review proposals including the one seeking to put Pakistan on a watch list of countries which have failed to prevent terrorist financing.

In the wake of a motion put forward by the US to put Pakistan on the grey-list, Islamabad has been lobbying with Russia and other allies to frustrate the move.

The two sides would deliberate upon the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, the state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

The visit would provide opportunity to explore ways and means to further strengthen cooperation in political, economic, trade and investment, defence, education and cultural fields.

Russia enjoys a special place in Pakistan’s foreign policy. The relations between the two countries have been growing steadily in all fields.

Regular high level exchanges between the two countries in the last few years is a manifestation of mutual desire of both  sides for translating political good will into a substantive and multidimensional partnership.

The two countries are also celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations this year.