MOSCOW, (DNA) – Active bilateral cooperation between Russia and Pakistan contributes to the strengthening cooperation between General Staffs. The Minister of Defence Russian Federation General of the Army Sergei Shoigu stated this today at a meeting with the Minister of Defence of Pakistan Khawaja Asif during the VI Moscow Conference on International Security.

In the beginning of the meeting, Sergei Shoigu expressed his condolences to the Pakistani counterpart in connection with terrorist attacks in the cities Parachinar and Lahore, which had taken dozens of lives, including servicemen.

“The world is not getting calmer and stable, and in these conditions, we are again and again saying that fighting international terrorism requires the consolidation of all interested forces,” said the head of the Russian military department.

“This year, our departments have rich programme of joint events. This is participation in counternarcotic exercises “Arabian monsoon – 2017”, and the mutual visits of the leadership of the armed forces, and visits of military ships in the ports of both countries,” said Sergei Shoigu.

Khawaja Asif also noted the improvement of bilateral relations.

He said that Russia should lead the process of stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan; Pakistan would support all initiatives to bring peace in the country.