Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan about increasing military cooperation and industrial collaboration between Pakistan and Russia, including the recent visit to Pakistan by a high-level Russian delegation led by the Deputy Defence Minister.

The UK respects Pakistan's right to choose its own international partners. The Foreign Secretary raised UK concerns relating to Russia's illegal war in Ukraine with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar of Pakistan at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on 25 October 2024. President Putin's invasion of Ukraine is a serious violation of the UN Charter and we are clear that engagements with the Russian Government should not be treated as business as usual. We continue to discuss global peace and security with Pakistan at Ministerial and official levels.