- Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi Calls for Visa Facilitation, Direct Flights, Business Cooperation and Expanded University Partnerships
- ISSI Dialogue Highlights Opportunities for Economic Cooperation, Student Mobility and Counterterrorism Collaboration
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, H.E. Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, has called for deeper economic, educational and people-to-people cooperation between Pakistan and Russia, emphasising the need to translate growing political engagement into tangible benefits for businesses, students and the wider public.
He made these remarks during a Special Talk on “Pakistan–Russia Relations” organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), where diplomats, scholars and researchers discussed practical measures to strengthen bilateral ties and address obstacles to cooperation.
Trade Facilitation and Connectivity Identified as Key Priorities
Ambassador Tirmizi highlighted visa facilitation, direct air links and solutions to banking and payment-related challenges as essential steps towards expanding bilateral trade and investment.
He also outlined preparations for a bilateral business forum, emphasising the importance of advance engagements between companies to identify commercial opportunities and establish meaningful business partnerships.
Discussing regional connectivity, the ambassador highlighted transport and transit routes through Iran, Afghanistan and China as potential avenues for improving trade flows and strengthening economic integration.
Pakistan and Russia to Expand Educational and Cultural Exchanges
The ambassador underscored the importance of stronger partnerships between universities, increased student mobility and enhanced cooperation in science, engineering and agriculture.
He also called for greater Russian-language education, cultural exchanges and closer collaboration between the two countries’ media and creative industries to promote mutual understanding and strengthen people-to-people relations.
Counterterrorism and Regional Security Cooperation in Focus
Addressing regional security, Ambassador Tirmizi highlighted opportunities to strengthen counterterrorism and law enforcement cooperation, particularly following the recent visit of Russia’s Interior Minister to Pakistan.
Russian Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Albert P. Khorev, reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to help ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He also expressed concern over reports of terrorist infiltration into Pakistan from Afghan territory and highlighted the adverse impact of border closures on regional trade.
The discussion underscored the importance of regional stability, effective security cooperation and open trade routes in advancing shared economic and strategic interests.
ISSI Highlights Growing Strategic Engagement
Ambassador Moin ul Haque, Director General of ISSI, highlighted the institute’s engagement with Russian think tanks and its efforts to expand joint research initiatives and academic exchanges.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the ISSI Board of Governors, observed that Pakistan and Russia were witnessing growing convergence on several important issues, including counterterrorism.
ISSI Dialogue Promotes Practical Bilateral Cooperation
The Special Talk was organised by ISSI’s Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) as part of its efforts to encourage informed dialogue on Pakistan’s foreign relations and evolving regional dynamics.
The discussions highlighted the potential for Pakistan and Russia to deepen cooperation across trade, education, connectivity, culture and security, with a focus on practical initiatives capable of delivering lasting benefits to both countries.
BY: The Times Union
