Moscow
\nSenator Mushahid Hussain, Chairman Senate Defense Committee, is visiting Russia on the invitation of the ruling \u2018United Russia\u2019 party, during which he met Former President Dmitri Medvedev (who\u2019s number two to President Putin) and Foreign Minister Lavrov.
\nHe also attended the newly-formed International Forum for \u2018Freedom of Nations\u2019 where he was elected as Member of the Forum\u2019s 20-member Standing Committee. The Forum was organized by the United Russia party.
\nSenator Hussain Co-Chaired the Forum\u2019s plenary session where Foreign Minister Lavrov spoke and Senator Hussain had a comprehensive exchange with former President Dmitri Medvedev, now Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia.
\nSenator Hussain and Dmitri Medvedev discussed Pakistan-Russia relations, the situation in Afghanistan, the war in Gaza and the \u2018unlimited possibilities for Pakistan-Russian collaboration in the region, particularly on energy & economic connectivity\u2019, adding \u2018Pakistan core interests are linked to this region, where Russia is a key factor\u2019.
\nSenator Hussain told Mr Medvedev that the probable election of President Trump in the US Presidential elections in November 2024 would qualitatively change the region\u2019s geopolitics. Senator Hussain said he found \u2018tremendous goodwill\u2019 for Pakistan in all official and popular circles in Moscow.
\nDuring the visit Senator Mushahid Hussain also delivered a lecture at the Russian Diplomatic Academy, the first prominent Pakistani to be invited to address the Diplomatic Academy in 50 years.
\nThe topic of the talk was \u2018Pakistan and the changing regional scenario\u2019. Senator Hussain during his talk also highlighted the fact that there\u2019s \u2018no fundamental conflict of interest\u2019 between Pakistan and Russia\u2018, therefore, \u2018Pakistan has remained neutral on Ukraine, abstaining on voting in the United Nations on this issue\u2019.
\nHe welcomed growing relations between Pakistan and Russia especially in the field of energy, connectivity, education, regional security including Afghanistan and cooperation at multilateral fora including SCO and UN.
\nHe also expressed optimism on Pakistan joining BRICS with Russian cooperation, as Russia is Chair of BRICS in 2024. He said in the future 4 Muslim Middle Powers-Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia & Turkey, would play a decisive role in regional affairs.
\nHe also appreciated President Putin\u2019s stance on Islamophobia. The lecture was followed by a question and answer session from the students of the diplomatic academy.
\nSenator Mushahid Hussain also met Senator Chizhov, President of the Russia-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group. Senator Mushahid Hussain also met leading members of the small Pakistani community in Moscow plus had several interviews with the Russian media.
\nSenator Mushahid Hussain was also invited to be part of International Observers who will visit to observe Presidential Elections during March 15-17, 2024.<\/p>\n
Giving his impressions of his visit to Russia, Senator Mushahid Hussain met three fundamental points: a) both countries have \u2018Strategic Space\u2019 after ending of foreign intervention in Afghanistan, to build relations anew in various fields; b) Pakistan needs \u2018Regional Reset\u2019 in its foreign relations to take substantial initiatives for regional connectivity with Russia and other neighbouring countries; c) China is a common factor of unity & connectivity for Pakistan and Russia given both countries have close strategic ties with Beijing. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Moscow Senator Mushahid Hussain, Chairman Senate Defense Committee, is visiting Russia on the invitation of the ruling \u2018United Russia\u2019 party, during which he met Former President Dmitri Medvedev (who\u2019s number two to President Putin) and Foreign Minister Lavrov. He also attended the newly-formed International Forum for \u2018Freedom of Nations\u2019 where he was elected as Member […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":375647,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-387939","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n