DUSHANBE (Agencies) – Pakistan and Russia on Thursday expressed the resolve for enhanced cooperation against terrorism through closer interaction.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Heads of Government meeting in the capital of Tajikistan.
The meeting went far beyond the scheduled time of 30 minutes during which they covered a wide range of issues, including Pakistan’s role in the war against terror, global economic recession and bilateral cooperation in diverse fields. Gilani said the total losses suffered by Pakistan against terrorism far exceeded the combined losses of the Nato troops.
Pakistan, which seeks more Russian role in the expansion of the Steel Mills, said it would welcome Russian entrepreneurs for investment.
Gilani also thanked Putin for his support in the wake of recent devastating floods and noted that since the last meeting at Beijing with Putin relations between the two countries were improving.
Putin said despite the global recession, the trade with
Pakistan had gradually started to pick up, adding that the Russian companies were keen to invest in several joint ventures with Pakistani counterparts.
Meanwhile, the Russian media reported that the two leaders also discussed the possibility of Russian companies participating in the development of oil deposits in Pakistan, the Russian PM’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
According to Peskov, Gilani and Putin during an in-depth conversation on bilateral economic ties, they also discussed the construction of oil and gas pipelines in the country. Furthermore, they discussed Russian companies’ participation in the modernisation of Pakistan Steel Mills.
Russia keen to develop Pak oil deposits | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
