ISLAMABAD, Sept 3 – Russia has invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Sept 13 against the backdrop of rapidly changing developments in the Middle East and Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported quoting local media reports.
Pakistan, which has an observer status at the SCO, is sending the Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz to take part in the summit.
Officials said in view of the likely ministry strike against Syria and the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan next year, Moscow is pushing Islamabad to send Prime Minister Nawaz.
Pakistan and Russia have wrapped up their first strategic dialogue with a commitment to remaining engaged and maintaining the momentum in the relationship.
“Both sides noted with satisfaction the growing understanding between the two countries and discussed in detail the state of bilateral relations,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, new Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Hassan Rohani will take part in the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek.
They are expected to discuss the recent Syrian crisis and the Afghan endgame. Both Russia and China are opposing military action against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons against the rebel strongholds.
Officials said the SCO summit could provide an opportunity for the new Pakistani prime minister to interact with heads of states present on key regional and international issues.
“Russia is quite keen to understand the new Pakistani government’s perspective on important issues,” said a Russian diplomat on the condition of anonymity.
The diplomat said it is important that Prime Minister Sharif attends the SCO since his government was seeking to reach out to regional countries for cooperation.
However, it is not clear whether the premier will travel to Bishkek.
Foreign office officials said the prime minister had no such plans yet, although he could attend the SCO summit before travelling to Turkey on Sept 16 and later to New York for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly session.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian security organisation established in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
– BERNAMA
