Pakistan and Russia held discussions on launching a direct flight between Moscow and Islamabad on the sidelines of the OIC ministerial conference in Istanbul.Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan met Russian Deputy Minister for Transport Zverev Dmitry Stanislavovich during the conference. Both sides agreed to promote land and air connectivity between the two countries.

The Russian deputy minister invited Aleem Khan to attend the International Transport and Logistics Forum scheduled to take place in Saint Petersburg on April 1-3, 2026. Talks were also held on increasing bilateral banking channels and removing existing obstacles affecting trade and transport.  Aleem Khan discussed practical steps to enhance cooperation in the transport sector.

He expressed resolve to address visa and other issues faced by Pakistani freight truck drivers. The federal minister reiterated Pakistan’s interest in developing land corridors in coordination with China and other countries. He said Pakistan and Russia could be linked through the Central Asian states. Aleem Khan said that Pakistan sought mutual cooperation with Russia in road network development and noted that regional countries could benefit from shared experience at the OIC conference.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)