Pakistani President Asif Zardari urged regional and global actors to resolve differences through diplomacy and dialogue. His remarks came during a meeting with Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev in Islamabad, according to an official statement from the president’s office.
Zardari expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in the Gulf region. He highlighted recent attacks on maritime traffic, energy installations and critical infrastructure.
The Pakistani leader emphasised the importance of safe maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. He warned that the ongoing conflict posed serious challenges to regional stability, global energy security, trade and supply chains, while stressing the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.
Kolokoltsev is on a four-day official visit to Pakistan, marking the first time a Russian interior minister has travelled to the South Asian country.
The two sides addressed economic ties and bilateral trade during their discussions. Bilateral trade stood at $243.4 million in the 2025 financial year.
Kolokoltsev said this volume remained below its true potential. He urged both countries to translate the goodwill of their leaders into tangible economic results and stated there was considerable room for expansion in commercial exchanges.
Separately, Kolokoltsev held formal talks with Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Their agenda covered combating organized crime, terrorism, extremism, illicit arms, drug trafficking and cybercrime.
The cybercrime discussions included telephone scams, phishing operations and cryptocurrency pyramid schemes. Law enforcement cooperation between Moscow and Islamabad was rooted in friendly and mutually beneficial bilateral relations, according to a statement released by the Russian Embassy in Islamabad.
