Web Desk (LTN NEWS): In a big change, Russia has agreed to give Pakistan gasoline without getting paid right away, the Daily Jang reported on Tuesday.
The change happened after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Vladimir Putin had important talks in Uzbekistan last week, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
During their three meetings, the two leaders talked about Russia’s oil, gas, and wheat supplies to Pakistan.
The report also said that the US has not openly opposed the proposed deal, even though Pakistan is in a very bad economic situation because of floods that killed many people.
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At a press conference on September 18, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that Russia had suggested that its gas pipeline infrastructure, which was already in place until Central Asian states, could be extended to Pakistan through Afghanistan.
Khawaja Asif said that the two leaders also agreed to increase cooperation between the two countries in all areas where they could both benefit.
“Possible gas pipeline”
On September 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif that Moscow could send gas to Pakistan through a pipeline.
After hearing about how bad the floods in Pakistan were because of climate change, President Putin also send his condolences and support to the people there.
PM Shahbaz said that Pakistan is still committed to working closely with Russia to expand and strengthen cooperation in all areas, including food security, trade and investment, energy, defense, and security.
When talking about regional politics, PM Shahbaz said that both Pakistan and Russia had a lot to gain from a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. He also said that Pakistan was committed to supporting all regional and international efforts to stabilize its neighboring country.
