Pakistan, Russia to stay in touch on Afghanistan

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistani and Russian leaders have exchanged views on the current humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

In a phone call on Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Vladimir Putin agreed to remain in close contact on Afghanistan.

“The prime minister underscored that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is pivotal for regional stability,” a statement from his office said.

Afghanistan was facing dire humanitarian and economic challenges, Khan said, stressing international support to the Afghans at this critical juncture.

Khan underlined the importance of releasing Afghanistan’s financial assets to address the needs of the Afghan people.

During the telephonic conversation, the premier thanked the Russian leader for his “emphatic” statement against insult to Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

Last month, Putin had said that insulting the Holy Prophet (PBUH) did not count as an expression of artistic freedom but was a “violation of religious freedom”.

Putin denounced the publication of blasphemous sketches of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, TASS reported.

In a tweet, Khan hailed Putin as the first Western leader to show empathy and sensitivity to Muslim sentiment for their beloved prophet.

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