Summary Two sides will discuss security cooperation, regional issues including Afghanistan.
MOSCOW (Agencies) - The first ever Pakistan-Russia strategic dialogue aiming at upgrading political‚ diplomatic‚ economic and defense relations has begun in Moscow on Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbass Jilani is leading Pakistani side in the dialogue‚ in which both the sides will also discuss security cooperation and regional and global issues of mutual interests including Afghan situation.
The decision for strategic dialogue had been taken at foreign secretary level talks last year‚ which will be subsequently upgrade to the level of foreign minister just like the Pak-US strategic dialogue.
Both the sides will also take up the issue of disarmament‚ counter terrorism‚ drug trafficking and global security besides enhancing cooperation in various fields and expanding bilateral trade.
Russia has been supportive of Pakistan becoming full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization and helped Pakistan obtain observer status in the organization while Islamabad supported Russian bid to have observer status in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
