ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar yesterday held separate meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rehman on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing regional cooperation.
In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Dar reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan-Russia relations, with both sides expressing satisfaction over the growing momentum in bilateral engagement.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity and other key sectors while enhancing coordination at multilateral forums.
They underscored the importance of sustained high-level engagement in advancing the Pakistan-Russia partnership and unlocking new avenues of collaboration.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on key regional and international developments and agreed to remain in close contact to further strengthen diplomatic coordination.
Later, Dar met Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister and President-elect of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Khalilur Rehman, to review the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Bangladesh relations and discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation.
The two leaders welcomed the renewed momentum generated by Dar’s visit to Bangladesh last year and reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening ties across multiple sectors.
They also appreciated the growing engagement between the two countries, highlighting increased people-to-people exchanges and improved connectivity following the commencement of direct flights earlier this year. Both sides agreed to sustain the positive momentum and continue efforts to expand bilateral cooperation.
Dar and Rehman also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation in promoting peace, stability and sustainable development.
