Maps
Magazine

TRADE & ECONOMY

Pakistan, Russia Deepen Ties with Focus on Energy and Connectivity
Pakistan, Russia reaffirm commitment to deepen ties across energy, trade & defense. New steel plant in Karachi, pilot cargo train & Putin-Shehbaz meeting in August highlight growing strategic cooperation.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-10
Pakistan, Russia Deepen Ties with Focus on Energy and Connectivity

Pakistan and Russia are witnessing a strategic thaw in relations, with both nations reaffirming their resolve to deepen cooperation across energy, trade, connectivity, and defense, according to official statements and diplomatic engagements held this summer.

On June 3, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Pakistan’s Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, and reiterated Moscow’s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation. The high-level meeting marked a continuation of Russia’s broader pivot towards stronger ties with Islamabad.

During the visit, Lavrov emphasised that Moscow viewed Pakistan as a “natural ally” in South Asia and a crucial partner in regional economic growth and stability.

🔹 Connectivity & Energy at the Core

At a separate meeting in Moscow, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk held talks with SAPM Fatemi and Pakistan’s aide on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan. Overchuk called the relationship a “natural alliance,” highlighting:

·       Railway connectivity projects linking Russia, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan

·       The launch of a pilot cargo train between Pakistan and Russia, scheduled for August 2025

·       President Vladimir Putin’s interest in deepening ties, especially in energy, steel, and regional trade

“President Putin considers Pakistan an important partner in regional growth and development,” Overchuk was quoted as saying.

Fatemi echoed similar sentiments, stating that Pakistan views Russia as a “stabilising factor in the international arena,” and reaffirmed that enhancing ties with Russia remains a top foreign policy priority for Islamabad.

🔹 Steel Diplomacy and Industrial Revival

A major milestone in bilateral ties came with the May 13 agreement to establish a new steel mill in Karachi, reviving a historic partnership dating back to Soviet-era support for Pakistan’s industrial sector.

Haroon Akhtar Khan, the project’s focal person, hailed the initiative as a “leap forward in economic cooperation” and a revival of Pakistan’s legacy industrial collaboration with Moscow.

🔹 Defense, Mediation, and Multilateral Engagement

Alongside trade and industry, defense collaboration and regional mediation efforts have grown more visible:

·       Russia has held regular joint military exercises with Pakistan in recent years.

·       During the May 2025 India-Pakistan military escalation, Moscow offered to mediate and called for restraint.

·       Russia and Pakistan also reviewed regional crises, including developments in Afghanistan, South Asia, and the Middle East.

Overchuk confirmed that President Putin is looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in August during the upcoming SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in Tianjin, China.

🔹 A Growing Strategic Partnership

The recent diplomatic push follows Deputy PM Overchuk’s September 2024 visit to Islamabad, where he and then-Finance Minister Ishaq Dar signed an MoU to strengthen ties in energy, infrastructure, and agriculture.

Observers say Russia’s pivot toward Pakistan reflects Moscow’s strategy to diversify partnerships amid shifting geopolitical alignments, Western sanctions, and increased competition in Eurasia.

With renewed focus on connectivity, economic diplomacy, and defense cooperation, both countries appear set on charting a more robust, multipolar partnership.
Tagged:

putin

EnergyDiplomacy

PakistanRussia
Share News: