By Zahid Shah 

ISLAMABAD (TSAT) - Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday urged Russian President  Vladimir V. Putin to resolve Ukraine issue through diplomacy.

During his meeting with Putin in Moscow, Khan regretted the latest situation between Russia and Ukraine and said that Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict.

"Conflict was not in anyone’s interest, and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically in case of conflict. He underlined Pakistan’s belief that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy," Khan told Putin during the meeting, according to a statement issued from premier office.

Khan, who along with a high level delegation arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, on his first visit to Russia, hold a detail meeting with Putin just hours later he ordered his forces to attack Ukraine. 

According to the statement, the two leaders held wide-ranging consultations on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Recalling the telephone conversations during the recent months between the two leaders, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the positive trajectory of bilateral relations will continue to move forward in the future.

"Trust and cordiality marking the relationship would translate into further deepening and broadening of mutual cooperation in diverse fields."

The Prime Minister reaffirmed the importance of Pakistan-Stream Gas Pipeline as a flagship economic project between Pakistan and Russia and also discussed cooperation on prospective energy-related projects. The Prime Minister underscored Pakistan’s commitment to forge a long-term, multidimensional relationship with Russia.

In the regional context, the Prime Minister underlined the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis and preventing potential economic meltdown in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan would continue to work with the international community for a stable, peaceful and connected Afghanistan. In this regard, he underscored the ongoing cooperation and coordination between Pakistan and Russia at various international and regional fora, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), its said.

On the situation in South Asia, the Prime Minister highlighted the serious human rights situation in IIOJK and underscored the imperative of peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The Prime Minister also highlighted the developments detrimental to regional peace and stability and stressed the need for measures that would help keep the regional balance.

Expressing concerns on rising trends of extremism and Islamophobia in the world, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for interfaith harmony and coexistence. Appreciating President Putin’s understanding of the respect and sensitivities that the Muslims attach to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the Prime Minister said that inter-faith harmony and respect for all religions was imperative for peace and harmony within and among the societies.

Later Khan also visited to the Grand Mosque and Islamic Center at Moscow and meet with Muslim leaders there.