ISLAMABAD – Russia has offered to assist in resolving tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Moscow expressing support for settlement of border disputes and the reopening of border crossings to restore trade.
Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev shared Moscow’s position while addressing an event on Pakistan-Russia relations at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). He said Russia wanted an early resolution to the tensions and the restoration of movement through border crossings.
Khorev noted that the closure of border routes was affecting trade not only between Pakistan and Afghanistan but also with Central Asian countries and Russia.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Tarar, said cross-border infiltration from Afghanistan into Pakistan remained a concern. He described Afghanistan as a complex issue that Pakistan and Russia were trying to address through their respective efforts.
Tarar said Russia had been urging the Taliban to ensure that Afghan territory was not used against other countries. He also referred to the recent visit of the Russian interior minister, saying it demonstrated that the two countries had no differences on the matter.
The Pakistani envoy also expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit Pakistan next year to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. He said bilateral relations between Islamabad and Moscow were continuing to improve.
Former Pakistani ambassador Masood Khan, who also spoke at the event, called for a broader perspective on Pakistan’s international position. He said Pakistan should be viewed as an independent partner rather than primarily through the lens of its relations with India or Afghanistan.
