Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing its economic partnership with Belarus, particularly in the area of agricultural machinery manufacturing.
During a meeting in Islamabad with a seven-member Belarusian delegation led by Defense Minister Lieutenant General Victor Khrenin, the premier noted the steady growth in bilateral relations between the two countries and emphasized the potential for further cooperation in fields such as information technology and defense.
The Belarusian delegation included Ambassador to Pakistan Andrei Metelitsa, Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich, and senior officials from the country’s defense ministry.
PM Shehbaz highlighted the importance of expanding existing collaborations and recalled his recent visit to Belarus, during which several memorandums of understanding and agreements were signed. These, he said, would serve as a foundation for deeper ties in the future.
He also extended best wishes to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and shared Pakistan’s perspective on the recent South Asian tensions.
PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan had offered India an impartial investigation into the Pehelgam incident, but India had instead responded with hostility, launching attacks that targeted civilian areas and resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
He stressed that Pakistan had acted in self-defense on May 10 in response to this aggression.
Lt. General Khrenin conveyed President Lukashenko’s greetings and reaffirmed Belarus’s desire for peace and stability in the region.
He stated that the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to push forward progress on the previously signed agreements and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The Belarusian defense minister also expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended by Prime Minister Shehbaz and acknowledged his role in promoting stronger ties between the two nations.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Federal Minister for Defense Production Reza Hayat Haraj, and other senior government officials.