ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Russia are well positioned to expand cooperation across a broad spectrum of sectors and contribute to regional stability, economic integration, and a more balanced international order, participants at a high-level webinar observed on yesterday. The webinar, titled “Pakistan–Russia Bilateral Relations at the Cusp of a Shifting Global Order,” was organized by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with the University of World Civilizations. The event brought together senior policymakers, diplomats, scholars, media professionals and strategic experts from Pakistan and Russia to examine the evolving trajectory of bilateral ties and identify new avenues for cooperation in an increasingly multipolar world. Opening the event, Dr. Neelum Nigar, Director of the Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at ISSI, underscored the growing importance of Pakistan-Russia engagement amid rapidly changing regional and global dynamics. She said the webinar sought not only to deepen strategic understanding between the two countries but also to strengthen public diplomacy, academic collaboration, media cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. Addressing the webinar as chief guest, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari described Pakistan-Russia relations as a steadily strengthening partnership that has witnessed substantial progress over the past two decades. The minister highlighted expanding bilateral cooperation in energy, trade, industry, defence, education, science and technology, as well as people-to-people contacts. He attributed much of this progress to increasing high-level exchanges and the work of the Pakistan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission. He said both countries possessed considerable potential to advance regional peace, economic connectivity and a more equitable global order. In his keynote address, Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi described the present period as a defining moment in international politics. He highlighted Moscow’s growing role in shaping emerging geopolitical and economic trends and noted the increasing frequency of diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Russia. The ambassador expressed confidence that connectivity initiatives, economic cooperation and political coordination would continue to strengthen bilateral relations and contribute to a more inclusive and balanced regional architecture. During the first working session, experts, diplomats, academics and media practitioners from both countries exchanged views on the evolving international order and the future direction of Pakistan-Russia relations. Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi observed that bilateral relations were currently at their strongest point in history, driven by growing convergence on regional and international issues and expanding cooperation in energy, trade, connectivity, security and counterterrorism.
He noted that ongoing global transformations offered an important opportunity for both countries to deepen mutually beneficial engagement and contribute to regional peace and stability.
Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Masood Khan, placed the discussion within the broader context of Eurasian geopolitics and the emergence of a multipolar world.
He highlighted the potential for Pakistan and Russia to strengthen cooperation in connectivity, energy security, trade integration and counterterrorism while advocating stronger economic engagement and broader regional connectivity involving Pakistan, Russia, China and Central Asian states.
Offering a Russian perspective, Dr. Natalia Zamaraeva emphasized the growing momentum in bilateral relations and underscored the importance of economic connectivity, transport corridors, energy cooperation, educational exchanges and regional integration. She described Pakistan as a strategically important partner in Eurasian trade networks.
Meanwhile, Dr. Roxolana Zigon characterized Pakistan-Russia relations as entering a new phase of strategic trust, stressing the importance of sustained dialogue, academic collaboration, people-to-people exchanges and institutional partnerships.
Contributing to the discussion, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem highlighted the implications of ongoing geopolitical shifts for sovereignty, security and governance. He noted the increasingly important role of middle powers such as Pakistan in promoting dialogue, mediation and consensus-building within a multipolar international system.
The webinar’s second session focused on strengthening societal and informational linkages between Pakistan and Russia, with participants emphasizing the need to complement official diplomacy through enhanced media cooperation and deeper people-to-people engagement.
Russian media expert Dimitri Alexander Simes highlighted the untapped potential of media collaboration and called for expanded journalist exchanges and stronger institutional partnerships to improve mutual understanding and bilateral narratives.
Senior Pakistani journalist Syed Talat Hussain stressed the importance of cultural diplomacy, arguing that durable bilateral relations depend on robust people-to-people connections.
He advocated greater cooperation in education, tourism, cultural exchanges and media partnerships to further strengthen societal ties.
Russian analyst Leonid Savin echoed these views, urging wider engagement among universities, academic institutions, cultural organizations and professional networks as a means of unlocking the full potential of Pakistan-Russia relations.
Concluding the session, Tanya Juliet Francis noted a shared recognition among participants that the world was undergoing profound transformation. She emphasized that stronger communication, public diplomacy, cultural interaction and media cooperation would be essential for sustaining the positive trajectory of bilateral relations.
In his remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood reflected on emerging geopolitical trends, regional connectivity initiatives, energy cooperation, media engagement and prospects for further strengthening Pakistan-Russia ties.
He reaffirmed the commitment of both sides to maintaining dialogue and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, expressing optimism about the future direction of the relationship amid a rapidly evolving global environment.
