ISLAMABAD : 14 Oct 2026 – Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Kolokoltsev spent a very busy day in Islamabad having meetings with top leadership of Pakistan including Prime Minister , President, Chief of Defense Forces and DPM Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Minister Interior Pakistan Mohsin Naqvi was also present in meetings except with CDF. Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Pakistan Albert P. Khorev was also accompanying the Interior Minister.
President Asif Ali Zardari emphasized the need to further strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and Russia in trade, energy, industrial development, regional connectivity and counter-terrorism, stressing that the goodwill between the leaderships of both countries needs to be translated into concrete results for the peoples.
The President stressed the importance of fully utilizing existing institutional mechanisms to advance cooperation in various sectors.The President noted that bilateral trade volume during fiscal year 2025 stood at $243.412 million, which is still low compared to the trade potential of both countries.
Describing Russia as an important partner of Pakistan in the energy sector, President Zardari expressed Pakistan’s interest in expanding cooperation in oil and gas sectors.
Direct Road Rail Air Connectivity through Central Asia
Emphasizing the importance of regional connectivity, the President said that Pakistan’s geographical location makes it a natural bridge between South, Central and West Asia. He expressed interest in strengthening connectivity through railways and roads via Central Asia, besides the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). He also stressed early resumption of direct flights between Pakistan and Russia and improving freight linkages.
VISA Issue ; Regarding people-to-people and educational ties, the President appreciated the significant increase in the number of visas issued by Pakistan to Russian citizens and stressed that similar visa facilitation should be provided to Pakistani businessmen, tourists and students.
He expressed satisfaction over the growing number of Pakistani students pursuing higher education in Russia and stressed the need to resolve their visa, residence and immigration-related issues.
Hormuz and Red Sea ; Discussing regional security, President Zardari expressed deep concern over rising tensions in the Gulf, particularly attacks on maritime traffic, energy installations and critical infrastructure. He said this conflict is posing serious challenges to regional stability, global energy security, trade and supply chains.
The President emphasized respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, appealed to the parties to show restraint and adhere to commitments made under the Islamabad MoU, while stressing resolving differences through dialogue and diplomacy. He also highlighted the importance of safe passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
The Russian Minister said that there is significant potential to expand mutual trade between the two countries.The Russian Interior Minister also invited President Asif Ali Zardari to visit Russia. Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi was also present in the meeting.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received Mr. Vladimir Kolokoltsev, and emphasized the importance of building on this momentum to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. He underscored the need to expand cooperation across areas of mutual interest, particularly trade and investment, energy, and economic development.
The Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of a (MoU) on Strengthening Cooperation in Combating Organized Crime.
The Russian Minister conveyed Russia’s desire to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest. Appreciating Pakistan’s support at various multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, he also highlighted the significant potential for expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Russia. He expressed his country’s readiness to work closely with Pakistan to further enhance bilateral engagement.
Meeting with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest and the regional security environment, with particular emphasis on strengthening bilateral security cooperation. They underscored the importance of closer institutional linkages and improved coordination between the security institutions of Pakistan and Russia.
COAS & CDF reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to deepen its longstanding relations with Russia and expand tangible cooperation in areas of shared interest, particularly in the security domain.
The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace and stability and acknowledged the professionalism and sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism.
Visit to MOFA – Meeting with DPM/ FM
Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also joined the meeting.
The DPM/FM expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in Pakistan–Russia relations, welcoming recent high-level visits and exchanges. The two sides discussed avenues for enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, culture and tourism, strengthening people-to-people ties, and maintaining close cooperation at multilateral fora, including the SCO.
