ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday held a telephonic conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which the two sides discussed rescheduling Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s planned visit to Russia.
PM Shehbaz had cancelled his official visit to Russia in light of the regional turmoil following the US-Israel attack on Iran, the Prime Minister’s Office said last month.
According to Russian media, the prime minister was originally scheduled to visit Russia from March 3 to 5.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, DPM Dar and the Russian foreign minister underscored the importance of maintaining regular high-level engagements and discussed setting new dates for the visit at a mutually convenient time.
The two leaders also reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation at multilateral fora, particularly in support of international peace and security.
The statement added that Lavrov appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States.
During the conversation, Dar, who also serves as foreign minister, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all issues.
The deputy prime minister also extended an invitation to his Russian counterpart to visit Pakistan, while both sides agreed to remain in close contact to further advance cooperation, the Foreign Office statement concluded.