Moscow–Islamabad Media Forum to Strengthen Strategic Dialogue Ahead of PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Russia Visit

ISLAMABAD: A significant diplomatic and media engagement, the Moscow–Islamabad Media Forum will take place on 27 February 2026 at 11:00 AM Moscow time (1:00 PM Islamabad time).

The forum is being organized in connection with the upcoming official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Moscow in the first week of March 2026, and is being viewed as an important step toward deepening Pakistan–Russia relations through media and policy dialogue.

The forum aims to provide a joint platform for journalists, diplomats, scholars, and policy experts from both countries to exchange views on bilateral ties, explore new avenues of cooperation, and assess the broader impact of Pakistan–Russia relations on global politics, economic partnerships, and the evolving media landscape.

The first session, titled “Global Issues and Perspectives in a Changing World: A Moscow and Islamabad Review,” will run from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM (Moscow time).

It will be moderated in Moscow by Pyotr Lidov of the Rossiya Segodnya Media Group, and in Islamabad by Agha Iqrar Haroon, Chief Editor of DND News Agency.

The session will feature prominent speakers, including Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, and Dr. Roxolana Zigon from the University of World Civilizations.

From Pakistan, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed will participate, while Russian Ambassador Albert Khorev will deliver a video address.

The discussion is expected to focus on global challenges, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and the perspectives of Moscow and Islamabad on emerging international issues.

The second session, scheduled from 12:40 PM to 2:00 PM (Moscow time), will address “Prospects for Growth in Russia–Pakistan Relations.” Moderation will again be led in Moscow by Pyotr Lidov-Petrovsky, while senior journalist Almas Haider Naqvi of Dunya News will moderate from Islamabad.

Speakers will include Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi; Dr. Irina Sinenko of the Russian Academy of Sciences; and Sergey Strokan, analyst with Kommersant.

Pakistani participants will include Dr. Sarwat Rauf, Head of the International Relations Department at National University of Modern Languages; Iftikhar Shirazi, Bureau Chief of Dawn; and Shaukat Paracha of Aaj News.

This session is expected to explore economic collaboration, regional connectivity, diplomatic engagement, and future strategic cooperation between the two countries.

The third and final session, taking place from 2:10 PM to 3:30 PM (Moscow time), will focus on “New Trends in International Journalism.” It will be moderated in Moscow by Pyotr Lidov-Petrovsky and in Islamabad by Tanzeema Mazhar of GTV.

The panel will include Dmitry Alexander Simes of Sputnik International, Dmitry Leontiev of RT, and Artyom Chebarov, Head of Online Projects. From Pakistan, participants will include journalist Mateen Haider, Dr. Maria Sultan, Adviser at the Ministry of Defence, Anas Malik of Asia One, and Amir Ilyas Rana of Express News.

The discussion will examine digital transformation, the evolving role of global media, narrative-building in international politics, and the future of cross-border journalism.

Observers believe the Moscow–Islamabad Media Forum will play a key role in strengthening mutual understanding, enhancing media cooperation, and setting the stage for expanded political, economic, and strategic engagement between Pakistan and Russia ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming Moscow visit.