Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi called for stronger economic, educational, and people-to-people ties during a speech at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. Ambassador Tirmizi emphasized the necessity of addressing banking constraints, establishing direct flights, and enhancing academic collaboration between Islamabad and Moscow.
ISLAMABAD, October 19: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, H.E. Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, has called for deeper economic, educational, and cultural cooperation between Pakistan and Russia to translate growing political dialogue into tangible bilateral partnerships.
Delivering a comprehensive address during a special lecture on Pakistan-Russia relations at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on Monday, Ambassador Tirmizi outlined strategic priorities aimed at strengthening bilateral engagement across multiple sectors. The diplomatic event, organized by the Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at ISSI, brought together senior diplomats, academic researchers, and policy analysts to evaluate the current trajectory of interstate relations between Islamabad and Moscow.
Focusing on commercial and economic connectivity, Ambassador Tirmizi emphasized the urgent need to address existing operational hurdles that affect business enterprises, travelers, and educational exchange programs. He underscored the importance of implementing effective visa facilitation measures, establishing direct flight connections, and resolving banking and payment processing constraints that currently impede seamless bilateral trade. Furthermore, the ambassador detailed ongoing preparations for an upcoming bilateral business forum, noting that preparatory B2B meetings between commercial enterprises from both countries are actively underway to boost trade volumes. Regional transport connectivity corridors passing through Iran, Afghanistan, and China were also highlighted as vital routes for integrating South Asian and Eurasian markets.
Pakistan and Russia Educational and Security Cooperation
In addition to economic and trade priorities, Ambassador Tirmizi advocated for enhanced educational collaboration, urging the establishment of stronger institutional partnerships between Pakistani and Russian universities. He called for increased student mobility and expanded academic cooperation in specialized technical disciplines, including science, engineering, and agriculture. To support long-term people-to-people exchanges, the envoy highlighted the growing significance of Russian language instruction, cultural programs, and closer professional engagement between media organizations and creative sectors in both nations.
Addressing regional security dynamics, Ambassador Tirmizi pointed to significant opportunities for expanded counter-terrorism coordination and law enforcement collaboration. These security discussions follow the recent official visit of the Russian Interior Minister to Pakistan, which underscored shared concerns regarding transnational security challenges and regional stability.
During the proceedings, Ambassador Albert P. Khorev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Pakistan, also addressed the audience, reaffirming Moscow’s readiness to assist in easing diplomatic and security tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Ambassador Khorev expressed concern over persistent reports of militant infiltration into Pakistan originating from Afghan territory, as well as the adverse impact of protracted border closures on regional commerce and transit links.
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Ambassador Moin ul Haque, Director General of ISSI, opened the academic session by detailing the institute’s ongoing cooperation with Russian research organizations, emphasizing joint initiatives aimed at expanding scholarly exchanges. In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the ISSI Board of Governors, observed a steady convergence of strategic interests between Pakistan and Russia, particularly regarding regional security coordination and counter-terrorism initiatives.
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