ISLAMABAD / MOSCOW, February 28: Senior diplomats, policymakers and media experts from Pakistan and Russia have underscored the need to strengthen strategic engagement, expand economic and defence cooperation, and deepen media collaboration to consolidate the growing partnership between the two countries.
The call came during the Pakistan–Russia Media Forum, where participants discussed global challenges and evolving geopolitical realities under the theme, “Global Challenges and Perspectives in the Changing World: Overview from Moscow and Islamabad.”
High-Level Diplomatic Engagement
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, described the forum as a reflection of growing intellectual and diplomatic convergence between Islamabad and Moscow. He noted that the upcoming summit in Moscow would mark the fifth meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Vladimir Putin, signaling sustained high-level engagement between the two leaderships.
Ambassador Tirmizi also announced that Pakistan is organizing a Pakistan–Russia
Business Forum alongside the Prime Minister’s visit, where more than 100 leading Pakistani companies will engage with Russian counterparts. He highlighted opportunities in trade, agriculture, education and cultural exchanges, and emphasized the importance of increasing people-to-people contacts. Pakistan aims to raise the number of Pakistani students in Russia to 13,000 and welcome Russian scholars to Pakistan for academic exchange.
Referring to defence cooperation, he mentioned regular ‘Druzhba’ military exercises and joint naval drills, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, peace and regional stability.
Media as a Strategic Resource
Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, described the forum as an important platform for strengthening media cooperation between the two countries. She stated that information has become a strategic resource and a key measure of national power and sovereignty, while warning of the growing challenges posed by hybrid conflicts and misinformation.
Zakharova expressed concern over the alarming increase in fake news and questioned how media narratives in the past were used to shape public opinion before military interventions, resulting in severe consequences in various regions. She also expressed support for March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and emphasized the importance of upholding freedom of speech and religion in a principled manner.
Shared Vision for a Multipolar World
Chairman Pakistan China Institute and former parliamentarian Syed Mushahid Hussain described the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Moscow as potentially landmark. He stressed that Pakistan and Russia have no fundamental conflicts of interest and share growing alignment on global issues.
Highlighting media misperceptions and double standards, he called for a more inclusive, rules-based international order grounded in equality, international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. He emphasized joint efforts on climate change, poverty alleviation and regional security.
Expanding Strategic Cooperation
Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev highlighted the steady expansion of bilateral ties since 2010, pointing to growing cooperation in diplomacy, trade, media and cultural exchanges. He commended Pakistan’s efforts in maintaining regional stability despite security challenges and stressed the importance of expanding collaboration in trade, technological cooperation, business engagement and public diplomacy.
Experts at Pak–Russia Media Forum Call for Deeper Strategic, Economic and Media Partnership
