Awais Leghari calls for deeper Pakistan-Russia ties

SLAMABAD: Energy Minister Awais Leghari has said that Pakistan is keen to further expand its bilateral relations with Russia, with significant potential for cooperation in agriculture, energy, tourism, information technology and other sectors.

In an interview with Russian news agency Sputnik, Leghari, who is also co-chairman of the Pakistan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission, said the two countries had “enormous” untapped potential for cooperation.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had used every possible opportunity to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the global stage, adding that both leaders had demonstrated genuine interest in strengthening bilateral ties.

“Russia’s cooperation is much required for regional peace, security and economic growth,” Leghari said.

He said the Pakistan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission was playing an important role in promoting bilateral cooperation and provided a forum to discuss a wide range of areas of mutual interest.

Trade, rail links and regional connectivity

Leghari said Pakistan and Russia could significantly expand cooperation in agriculture, food security, energy, tourism and IT.

He said new railway links could help increase bilateral trade, while Pakistan’s integration into the International North-South Transport Corridor could further strengthen trade and connectivity between Pakistan, Russia and the wider Eurasian region.

The minister said improved transport links would create new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation by providing more efficient routes between the two countries and connecting Pakistan with broader regional markets.

Indus Waters Treaty

Leghari also spoke about the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of its water rights would amount to an “act of war”.

He called for disputes relating to the treaty to be resolved through its established dispute-resolution mechanisms.

The minister warned that developments surrounding the treaty could have consequences extending far beyond the region, underscoring the need for the issue to be addressed through the mechanisms provided under the agreement.

Pakistan-Russia cooperation

Leghari’s comments come as Islamabad seeks to broaden engagement with Moscow across economic, energy and regional connectivity initiatives.

He said Pakistan remained interested in expanding cooperation with Russia and exploring new areas that could contribute to economic growth and strengthen bilateral relations.