Moscow, Feb 24: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in the Russian capital Moscow on a two-day visit, Dawn reported on Thursday. Khan’s visit to Moscow coincides with events unfolding rapidly on the Russia-Ukraine border, and with the US-led Western powers slamming the Kremlin and imposing sanctions against it.
Khan was received at the airport by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov upon his arrival and is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin later in the day. Khan’s visit is the first by a Pakistani premier to Russia since Nawaz Sharif’s visit in March 1999, and former president Asif Ali Zardari visited Moscow in 2011. Khan’s visit is being viewed by many in and outside Pakistan on what kind of effect it will have on its relations with the US and the West. However, Pakistani officials have played down the timing of the visit, but there is a school of thought this visit is a double-edged sword and Khan must tread with utmost caution.
