Pakistan and Russia urged to explore new avenues for cooperation

ISLAMABAD, February 28: Pakistan and Russia should address emerging challenges, strengthen mutual understanding, and explore new avenues for collaboration to promote sustainable bilateral relations.

Speaking at the session titled “ the Perspectives on the Bilateral Relations development between Russia and Pakistan” during Pakistan-Russia Media Forum, Geopolitical analyst and head of the Scientific Center of International and Strategic Studies at the University of World Civilization Dr. Roxolana Zigon, highlighted the forum as a reflection of deepening cooperation between Pakistan and Russia. She said global power shifts influenced both nations to recognize shared strategic and geopolitical objectives. Dr. Zigon added that the forum aims to strengthen strategic collaboration ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Moscow, emphasizing Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism, manage tensions with India responsibly, and assert its role as a “middle power” through active global engagement.
She emphasized that Pakistan’s diplomatic and military responses, including the management of heightened tensions with India, reflect strategic restraint and responsibility as a nuclear state.

Dr. Zigon further underlined Pakistan’s growing diplomatic influence and active engagement in global affairs, noting that the Prime Minister and top military officials have pursued international dialogue to reassert Pakistan’s role as a “middle power.”
Former Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry observed that Pakistan–Russia relations have witnessed a steady upward trajectory since the early 2000s, with both countries gradually building mutual trust and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors including defense, energy, and regional connectivity.

Putin declares nuclear forces Russia’s top priority now

Ms. Sarwat Rauf, Head of the Department of International Relations at NUML noted a visible thaw in bilateral relations, describing the current phase as an opportune moment to consolidate gains and move forward despite geopolitical challenges. She stressed the importance of academic and intellectual exchanges in strengthening long-term cooperation.

Dr. Syed Muhammad Ali, Chairperson of the Council of Complaints, deliberated on emerging sectors of potential cooperation and the importance of fostering mutual trust. He identified fourteen key challenges and proposed measures to address them, highlighting Pakistan’s stance on various issues while expressing optimism about stronger ties in the future. Senior journalist Almas Haider Naqvi said the forum was both timely and significant, noting that cooperation extends to regional and global interests. He highlighted collaboration in multinational forums such as the SCO as a reflection of mutual recognition and forward-looking partnerships.

News analyst and anchor Shaukat Piracha termed the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Moscow as highly significant for advancing strategic engagement, adding that President Vladimir Putin condemned blasphemous content that hurt the sentiments of Muslims and recalled instances where Russia supported Pakistan’s principled positions on key international issues.

During the third session tilted “New Trends in International Journalism”, the Executive Content Producer of Rossiya Segodyna Dmitry Leontiev stressed that media organizations must uphold their national interests while reporting. “We are here following our national interest, and Pakistani media should also follow their national interest,” he said, emphasizing that no external body can better judge a country’s interests than the country itself.

Anchor Mateen Haider from Pakistan highlighted the importance of objectivity, subjectivity, and independence in reporting, pointing to bias in parts of the international media that negatively portray Pakistan, discouraging tourism despite realities on the ground.
Head of Sputnik International, Dimitri Alexander Simes said his organization operates in multiple languages and plans to introduce Urdu programming to better engage Pakistani audiences. He also extended cooperation to Pakistani media organizations, stressing the need for reciprocal collaboration. A counsellor at Rossiya Segodnya Media Group expressed optimism about growing public interest in international affairs and said Pakistan–Russia relations are poised for significant transformation in the coming years.

Bureau Chief of Asia One, Asas Malik, said Pakistan and Russia have significant potential to further strengthen their relations. He highlighted recent ministerial visits to Russia and called for announcements of additional scholarships for Pakistani students.
Advisor to Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence and Chairperson of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute University, Dr. Maria Sultan, underscored the central role of communication and journalism in bridging trust gaps. She stressed that sustainable cooperation cannot be achieved without accurate and balanced media representation. “If there are no voices reflecting the truth on either side, the communication bridge will not hold,” she said, highlighting media engagement as essential to overcoming long-standing trust deficits and legacy perceptions.

Dr. Maria Sultan observed that Pakistan and Russia are culturally and strategically closer than often assumed, sharing similar economic visions and long-term planning orientations, though public perception remains distant. She called for institutionalized dialogue, proactive media collaboration, and engagement through organizations including the Associated Press of Pakistan and Russian media partners. On the economic front, she emphasized tangible outcomes through flagship initiatives, notably the long-delayed Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project, and stressed establishing viable financial frameworks for banking and trade channels.