Daily Times

Sir: A rare and quite welcome meeting took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Beijing the other day.

According to the reports, the first-ever one-to-one interaction between the Russian President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan took place in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the suburb of the Chinese capital on the conclusion of second roundtable conference in connection with the ‘One Belt One Road Forum’ for International Cooperation hosted by China and participated by more than two dozen heads of states and governments including Pakistan and Russia.

Though it is not known as to what transpired between the three leaders of Russia, China and Pakistan during the informal meeting, which was pleasant but brief, what is most important development on the sides of the OBOR moot is that President Putin and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have met for the first time.

Both Russia and China enjoy considerable influence in the region and both are reportedly keen to end the prevailing tension between the neighbouring countries India and Pakistan and have already, directly and indirectly, indicated their willingness to work for the peace in the region.

It is pertinent to note that Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will all be in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, in the second week of next month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. Pakistan and India will be conferred full membership of the SCO on occasion.

As of now, the reports said, no meeting as such is scheduled to take place between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India during their presence in Astana, but the possibility of some development in this regard at the behest of China and Russia cannot be ruled out altogether.

All these developments, both scheduled and otherwise, augur well for peace in the region though Pakistan has to move very cautiously and carefully as the Indian prime minister has the reputation of taking u-turns at any forum anytime.

MOHAMMAD ZAHID RIFFAT

Lahore