Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to postpone his scheduled visit to Russia due to the current regional and domestic situation, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
An official statement said the decision was made after consultations, taking into account recent developments on both regional and internal fronts. The visit was considered important for strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Russia. New dates will be finalized later through mutual consultations.
The prime minister was expected to visit Moscow from March 3 to 5, as earlier reported by Russian state media.
The postponement comes at a time when Pakistan is engaged in Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. According to official updates, security forces have carried out air operations targeting multiple locations across Afghanistan following what was described as unprovoked action from the Taliban side. Officials said the operation remains ongoing and further updates will be shared as the situation develops.
At the same time, tensions in the broader region have intensified following recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which reportedly resulted in the assassination of several senior Iranian leaders.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Moscow, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, had earlier stated that Islamabad was aiming to sign a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Russia during the planned visit to boost bilateral trade.
In recent years, Pakistan and Russia have expanded cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. Pakistan began importing discounted Russian crude oil in 2023 and also received shipments of liquefied petroleum gas from Moscow.
Trade between the two countries more than doubled to approximately $1.81 billion between July 2023 and June 2024, although officials noted a slight decline in the most recent fiscal year.
The government has indicated that while the visit has been deferred, engagement with Russia remains a priority once the situation stabilizes.
