MOSCOW, FEB 20 (DNA) – Pakistan and Russia have agreed on strengthening bilateral engagement and diversifying cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

It was agreed during meeting between Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday.

They expressed desire to further expand bilateral trade and agreed to work together under the framework of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation.

Both the Foreign Ministers expressed satisfaction at the increasing bilateral cooperation and agreed to further intensify efforts to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

They also discussed the prevailing situation in Afghanistan and its implications in the region. They reiterated that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict and a negotiated settlement through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process was the only viable option for lasting peace in Afghanistan.