ISLAMABAD, FEB 19 (DNA) – As the Trump administration and its NATO allies are pursuing military options in Afghanistan despite their failure over the past 17 years, Pakistan and Russia will hold high-level talks in Moscow this week to explore ways for the political process to succeed in the war-torn country.

According to Russian Foreign Ministry, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif will pay a working visit to Moscow at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on February 20.

“The ministers will discuss the current state of affairs and prospects for strengthening of bilateral relations … and exchange views on important issues of the international and regional importance,” Russian Foreign Ministry senior official Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Feb 15.

“Today we can state that cooperation with Pakistan features prominently on the list of Russia’s foreign policy priorities. We maintain an intensive political dialogue with Islamabad and maintain constructive interaction on international platforms, primarily, the UN,” she said. Record of the briefing was posted online.

Foreign Office Spokesman Mohammad Faisal did not reply to a query about the foreign minister’s visit. The spokesman usually does not offer comments on important issues, depriving the independent media of official version of the government of Pakistan.