Pakistani, Russian foreign ministers discuss on COVID-19, regional issues

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the COVID-19 pandemic and regional issues, the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Thursday.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views about the socio-economic ramifications about the pandemic. Matters of mutual interest, cooperation at the multilateral form, and prospects of enhanced bilateral cooperation were also discussed, according to a statement from the Foreign Office.

Briefing his Russian counterpart about Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's global initiative for debt relief for developing countries, Qureshi underscored that "coordinated and comprehensive actions were essential to create fiscal space needed by the developing world to deal with the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19," said the statement.

During the phone conversation, the two foreign ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan in the context of the recent positive developments.

Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan's support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process and underlined his country's positive contribution to the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement, said the statement.

He stressed the importance of inclusive intra-Afghan negotiations as the only way to build durable peace and security in the country, it added.

Qureshi and Lavrov agreed on maintaining close consultations as part of regional efforts to support the Afghan peace process. They also decided to remain in close contact to take forward the important bilateral agenda and close cooperation in the regional context.