MOSCOW – July 10, 2025: Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk has called Pakistan and Russia “natural allies” and confirmed that President Vladimir Putin sees Pakistan as a key partner in energy and economic growth. He made these remarks during a meeting with Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, and Haroon Akhtar Khan, SAPM on Industries and Production, in Moscow.
Overchuk reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Pakistan across multiple sectors. He also highlighted upcoming connectivity projects, such as the Uzbekistan-Pakistan-Russia railway link and the pilot cargo train set to launch in August 2025, aimed at improving trade routes and regional integration.
Tariq Fatemi stated that building strong ties with Russia remains a top foreign policy priority for Pakistan. He said Islamabad views Moscow as a stabilizing force in global affairs and praised Russia’s growing role in regional peace efforts. Both sides reviewed progress in political, economic, energy, and industrial cooperation.
SAPM Haroon Akhtar called the New Steel Mills project in Karachi a symbol of long-standing Russia-Pakistan friendship. Signed in May 2025, the project is expected to boost Pakistan’s industrial capacity and deepen bilateral economic ties. Akhtar referred to the steel mill as a “leap forward” for future collaboration.
The leaders also discussed regional and global issues, including tensions in South Asia, the situation in Afghanistan, and the Middle East crisis. Notably, Russia had offered to mediate between Pakistan and India following recent hostilities in May. Overchuk confirmed that President Putin is eager to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the upcoming SCO summit in Tianjin, China, this August, signaling further high-level engagement.