By Muhammad Luqman
Indicating a major shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy, Islamabad has launched a regional diplomacy in a bid to muster support to withstand the pressure of the West especially the United States vis-à-vis ongoing situation in Afghanistan. The departure of Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif for Moscow on a four-day visit is reflective of South Asian nation’s efforts to revisit its seven decades old foreign policy that has been US and West centric. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman, Foreign Minister is visiting Moscow on the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov . During his stay in Moscow, the Foreign Minister will hold official talks with his Russian counterpart. The two sides would deliberate upon the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. The visit, according to foreign office, would provide opportunity to explore ways and means to further strengthen cooperation in political, economic, trade and investment, defence, education and cultural fields. Russia enjoys a special place in Pakistan’s foreign policy. The relations between the two countries have been growing steadily in all fields. Regular high level exchanges between the two countries in the last few years is a manifestation of mutual desire of both sides for translating political good will into a substantive and multidimensional partnership. The two countries are also celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations this year. The two Foreign Ministers had earlier met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York in September last.
