BISHKEK: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Russian President Viladimir Putin appreciated Pakistan’s role and efforts for promoting regional peace and security. He stated this while talking to media persons. He highlighted that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Viladimir Putin met briefly on sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Bishkek. In a video pertaining the SCO summit, PM Khan is also seen informally communicating with Russian President Putin during a photo shoot. Foreign Minister further added that both leaders discussed Afghanistan issue, situation in Middle East and Iran. PM Khan also took the Russian President into confidence on Kashmir’s situation, Qureshi told reporters. He said the SCO forum provided an opportunity for peace, stability and regional connectivity. During the summit on June 13, the prime minister while giving an interview to the Russian media expressed his desire to increase military ties with Moscow. PM Khan said he was happy with the burgeoning relation between Pakistan and Russia. “This is not the 60’s, things have changed drastically from the past riddled with ‘cold war’,” said Khan. PM Imran Khan and other world leaders were in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to attend the 19th meeting of the Council of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.