Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets Putin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Moscow on November 18, 2025, to advance regional connectivity and strategic partnerships in the face of global uncertainties.
These high-level engagements underscore Pakistan’s pivot towards Eurasian integration, enhancing energy security, trade corridors and counter-terrorism efforts crucial for South Asia’s stability as Western sanctions strain traditional alliances.
Dar-Putin Bilateral SCO Moscow: Focus on Economic Connectivity
Ishaq Dar’s interaction with Vladimir Putin occurred during a collective call-on by SCO heads of government delegations at the National Centre for Contemporary Arts in Moscow. Putin welcomed the leaders and stressed the SCO’s pivotal role in fostering regional economic cooperation. He highlighted the organisation’s function as a platform for connectivity, stability and mutually beneficial development across Eurasia.
The brief exchange aligned with broader Dar Putin bilateral SCO Moscow discussions, where emphasis fell on institutionalising trade and transit mechanisms. Pakistan views the SCO as a vehicle to position itself as a gateway for Central Asian resources, vital for its economy battered by inflation and floods. Official accounts noted Putin’s nod to Pakistan’s strategic location, echoing prior commitments to expand bilateral trade beyond USD 1 billion annually.
In parallel, Dar addressed the SCO Council of Heads of Government plenary, reaffirming Pakistan’s dedication to economic bridges through enhanced infrastructure and digital links. He proposed initiatives in disaster management and youth exchanges, positioning the SCO as a counterweight to unilateral pressures.
Pakistan China Russia Ties: Dar Meetings Strengthen All-Weather Bonds
The SCO heads government Dar Li Qiang meeting marked a cornerstone of Pakistan China Russia ties Dar meetings. Held on the summit’s second day, the bilateral session reaffirmed the “all-weather” strategic partnership between Islamabad and Beijing. Dar and Li Qiang reviewed progress in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), now valued at over USD 62 billion, with fresh focus on green energy and industrial zones.
Li Qiang praised the Shanghai Spirit mutual trust, equality and shared prosperity as guiding principles for SCO collaboration. The duo exchanged perspectives on global challenges, including supply chain disruptions and climate finance. They committed to real-time engagement, signalling accelerated joint ventures in agriculture and technology transfer.
These talks build on longstanding Pakistan China Russia ties Dar meetings, where trilateral formats under SCO have facilitated joint military drills and anti-piracy operations. Data from Pakistan’s Foreign Office indicates bilateral trade with China surged 15 per cent year-on-year to USD 27 billion in fiscal 2024-25, underscoring economic interdependence.
Dar also held substantive Dar Putin bilateral SCO Moscow consultations with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk. The agenda spanned political, economic, energy, connectivity, agricultural, industrial, educational and people-to-people domains. Overchuk recalled his recent visits to Pakistan and lauded its potential as a regional transit hub. Both sides pledged to activate institutional mechanisms, targeting a 20 per cent trade growth by 2027 through mechanisms like the Pakistan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission.
A shorter interaction with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov featured warm exchanges, photographed as a hug, symbolising thawing relations post-Ukraine tensions.
SCO Framework: Pakistan’s Strategic Push
The Moscow summit, under Russia’s chairmanship, convened on November 17-18, 2025, to adopt the SCO Budget for 2026-27 and review counter-terrorism strategies. Ishaq Dar’s delegation included senior officials from commerce and energy ministries, reflecting Islamabad’s holistic approach.
In his plenary remarks, Dar advocated for English as an SCO working language to broaden participation, alongside proposals for humanitarian corridors in conflict zones. He linked these to Pakistan’s experiences with terrorism and natural disasters, urging collective funding for resilience projects estimated at USD 5 billion regionally.
Pakistan China Russia ties Dar meetings gained momentum here, with informal sideline huddles exploring a trilateral energy pact. Though no formal pacts emerged, the summit’s joint communique endorsed sustainable development goals, aligning with Pakistan’s Vision 2025 for export-led growth.
Critics in South Asia note risks of over-reliance on Eurasian powers, yet proponents argue these forums diversify Islamabad’s options beyond IMF bailouts, which totalled PKR 24 trillion in debt servicing last year.
Background: Evolving Multilateral Dynamics
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, founded in 2001, now spans nine members and nine observers, covering 40 per cent of global population. Pakistan joined as a full member in 2017, leveraging SCO for border security and resource access.
Recent years saw Pakistan China Russia ties Dar meetings intensify amid US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Bilateral SCO Moscow engagements have yielded deals like Rosatom’s nuclear power plant accord worth USD 10 billion, operational since 2023.
Dar’s visit follows his August 2025 tour of Central Asia, where he secured wheat imports worth USD 500 million from Russia, averting domestic shortages.
What’s Next after Ishaq Dar Meets Putin and Li Qiang
Post-summit, Pakistan anticipates follow-up Dar Putin bilateral SCO Moscow working groups in Q1 2026, focusing on rail links via the International North-South Transport Corridor. Similarly, SCO heads government Dar Li Qiang channels will prioritise CPEC Phase II, with USD 2 billion in new investments.
These steps could elevate Pakistan’s GDP growth projection to 4.5 per cent, per Finance Ministry estimates, by unlocking transit fees and energy imports.
In conclusion, Ishaq Dar meets Putin, Li Qiang at SCO exemplify Islamabad’s assertive diplomacy, paving pathways for enduring Pakistan China Russia ties Dar meetings in a multipolar world.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, November 19th, 2025
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