In a further indication of Islamabad’s growing diplomatic heft after the Taliban’s return in Afghanistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and exchanged views on the volatile Afghan situation. Pakistan is perceived to be a strategic ally - and benefactor - of the hardline Islamist group Taliban, which defeated the erstwhile government forces in a recent bloody civil war to establish its sway in the country. Pakistan is believed to have helped the Taliban by giving its fighters medical aid and air support during the conflict.

Former Afghanistan vice president Amrullah Saleh, who is leading a resistance against the Taliban in the Panjshir valley, has blamed Pakistan for the collapse of the erstwhile government forces.
The Pakistani embassy is among a handful of diplomatic missions still functioning in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan capital Kabul now.

Imran Khan, during the call with Putin, stressed the importance of adopting coordinated approaches to addressing the evolving situation in Afghanistan, saying that Pakistan gave "high importance" to the role of the Troika Plus format. Pakistan and Russia, along with the United States and China, are known as the Extended Troika on Peaceful Settlement in Afghanistan and have held multiple meetings this year on the situation in the war-torn country.

Imran Khan emphasized that a stable, secure and peaceful Afghanistan was "vitally important" for Pakistan and regional stability. He also highlighted that an inclusive political settlement was the "best way forward" in Afghanistan, along with ensuring the safety, security and protection of rights of Afghans, according to a handout from the Prime Minister’s office.

Furthermore, the premier stressed that the international community must stay "positively engaged in support of the people of Afghanistan to help address humanitarian needs and ensure economic sustenance".

Talking about Pakistan-Russia relations, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed satisfaction at their "upward trajectory", noting that high-level exchanges were increasing and cooperation in various sectors was growing. He also affirmed Pakistan's resolve to strengthen trade relations as well as bilateral collaboration in the energy sector, including the early realization of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline Project, the statement said.

Imran and Putin agreed to "closely cooperate within the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) for promoting regional peace and security", it added, according to Dawn.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Islamabad in April this year, while Pakistan's foreign and defense ministers toured Russia last year. Lavrov's two-day trip to Pakistan was the first visit by a Russian foreign minister in nine years, part of a warming in once-frosty relations.

During his trip to Islamabad, Lavrov had remarked in a statement: "We stand ready to strengthen the anti-terrorist potential of Pakistan, including by supplying Pakistan with special military equipment."
Lavrov had said an agreement was also reached on conducting additional joint military exercises such as the Arabian Monsoon maritime drill.