On the occasion of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Moscow from March 3 to 5, 2026, a major event titled “Media Forum Moscow-Islamabad” will be held to promote dialogue between Pakistan and Russia.
The diplomatic and media forum will bring together prominent diplomats, international affairs experts, intellectuals and senior journalists from both countries. The event comes at a time when the global political and diplomatic order is undergoing rapid transformation, with new alignments taking shape. Observers say growing ties between Russia and Pakistan have gained special significance in this evolving global context.
Participants in the Moscow session will include Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, senior researcher Vyacheslav Belokrenitsky from the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, and senior research fellow Natalia Zamaraeva.
Other attendees include analyst Sergey Strokan, international relations expert Roksalana Zhyhon, senior producer Dmitry Leontyev of RT International, representative Dmitry Simes and Anton Chebarov, head of online products at the media group “Rossiya Segodnya.”
The Islamabad session will feature Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairman of the Senate Defense Committee, Russia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev, and Sarwat Rauf, head of the International Relations Department at the National University of Modern Languages.
Journalists and analysts including Iftikhar Shirazi, Defense Ministry adviser Sultan Maria, Asia One representative Anas Malik, Aamir Ilyas Rana and senior analyst Shaukat Paracha are also expected to attend.
The forum will feature in-depth discussions on the current state and future prospects of bilateral relations, with special sessions on economic cooperation, energy, defense ties, media partnerships and the role of Russia-Pakistan collaboration in the global political and information order.
Experts note that parliamentary exchanges, defense cooperation, expert-level dialogue and media engagement between the two countries have increased significantly in recent years. Organizers say the forum aims to further institutionalize and strengthen these ties.
Attendance will be subject to prior accreditation. Journalists must present passports and valid institutional identification. The Rossiya Segodnya multimedia press center reserves the right to refuse accreditation without explanation. Political observers describe the media forum as a significant development in the context of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Moscow visit, with expectations that it will enhance diplomatic engagement and foster greater informational and intellectual alignment between Russia and Pakistan.