In a moment steeped in spiritual symbolism and shared reverence, Chairman Senate of Pakistan, H.E. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, held a significant meeting with Mr. Ruhjann Abezov, Deputy Mufti of the Grand Mosque, Moscow. The meeting served as a profound reminder that faith-based diplomacy remains one of the most powerful forces in bridging nations and healing divides.
Chairman Gilani—himself a distinguished descendant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and the revered Sufi saint Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)—was received with warmth and spiritual fraternity. He conveyed the deep respect of the people and Parliament of Pakistan for the Grand Mufti’s pivotal role in guiding the Muslim community in Russia and promoting religious coexistence in an increasingly polarized world.
The dialogue took place against the backdrop of rising global challenges—radicalism, terrorism, and Islamophobia—where religious misinterpretation continues to fuel division and conflict. Chairman Gilani emphasized that Islam’s true message is one of peace, compassion, and universal brotherhood. He called for an international alliance of religious scholars and institutions to reclaim that narrative through collective wisdom, interfaith harmony, and inclusive education.
He lauded the Grand Mosque’s leadership in nurturing tolerance within Russia’s diverse religious and ethnic landscape, and reiterated Pakistan’s own commitment to interfaith dialogue, pluralism, and spiritual understanding. He also supported regarding the preaching of young children bring them closer the real plural Islam of humanity, tolerance and acceptance. Both sides agreed that at a time when extremist ideologies and cultural alienation threaten global stability, it is imperative to engage youth, counter disinformation, and promote the values of moderation and unity. The Deputy Grand Mufti expressed that there are 2.5 Million Muslims living in Russia peacefully and that President Putin himself takes keep interest in interfaith harmony and rights of all ethnicities.
Chairman Gilani proposed institutional linkages between Pakistan’s Islamic Ideological Council and the Grand Mufti’s office, suggesting joint initiatives in scholarly exchange, spiritual education, and youth outreach to cultivate a global Muslim identity rooted in shared values and mutual respect.
In a gesture of brotherhood and cultural closeness, Chairman Gilani extended a formal invitation to the Grand Mufti of Russia to visit Pakistan fostering the bonds of religious harmony, spiritual collaboration, and people-to-people contact.
Beside this, the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani speaking during an interview with Russian TV, the Chairman underscored that Pakistan-Russia inter-parliamentary dialogue is “actively developing based on mutual respect and shared interests.” He cited a series of productive engagements, including meetings with Madam Matviyenko, where crucial agreements were reached through bilateral negotiations.
The Chairman, who has served as Speaker of the National Assembly, and **Prime Minister of Pakistan, emphasized the importance of “people-to-people and parliament-to-parliament connections,” calling them fundamental to strengthen ties.
A Pakistan-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group has been formally established. The Chairman emphasized the historic, cultural, and literary ties between the two nations, referencing prominent Pakistani poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz, whose work also found admiration in Russia.
An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed earlier by both the Senate and Federation Council which will pave way to learn from each other experiences and share best practices.
In addition to parliamentary engagement, bilateral cooperation spans across multiple sectors, including Energy, Gas, Defence, Security, Counter-terrorism, Culture, Tourism, Youth exchange programs, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Agriculture.
Responding to a question the Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gillani reiterated that It’s a golden and healthy sign that our relationship is growing, but trade must match this strength,” he said. “We expect trade to reach US\$4 billion over the next five years.”
He called for enhanced connectivity through road and railway Network between the two countries. This vision is supported by President Putin,” the Chairman explained.
Highlighting Pakistan’s active role in regional cooperation, the Chairman recalled that Pakistan was recently a co-author of an important resolution at the United Nations General Assembly with regards to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Later on in a compelling display of parliamentary diplomacy, Chairman Senate of Pakistan, H.E. Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, met with the First Deputy Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Mr. Alexander Zhukov. The high-level engagement signaled a broad-based commitment by the Russian legislature to deepening ties with Pakistan in an era of rising global uncertainty.
The meeting served as a platform to candidly address shared concerns over regional stability—chief among them, the protracted crisis in Afghanistan and the rising tensions in South Asia. Chairman Gilani underscored Pakistan’s principled stance on the urgent need for humanitarian engagement in Afghanistan and for justice and peace in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).
“The people of Afghanistan deserve more than survival—they deserve dignity, education, and opportunity,” Gilani emphasized. “And the Kashmiri people cannot be forgotten in the face of silence and suppression. It is the moral duty of parliaments across the world to become voices of the voiceless.”
Chairman Gilani also drew attention to the alarming rise in Islamophobia, state-sponsored censorship, and extremism in the region. He advocated for sustained parliamentary engagement to confront narratives of hate and build bridges across civilizations.
Chairman Gilani emphasized that the role of the State Duma (lower house) remains pivotal in shaping the broader legislative and public discourse around Pakistan-Russia relations.
He expressed appreciation for the robust participation of party leaders from across the Russian political spectrum, noting that “the strength of a bilateral relationship lies not only in government-to-government ties but in parliament-to-parliament understanding and people-to-people connection.”
Discussions also touched upon strengthening collaboration at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where both countries advocate for multipolarity, inclusive development, and cultural diplomacy.
Accompanying Chairman Gilani were Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, H.E. Khalid Mahmood Jamali; Financial Advisor to the Chairman Senate, Mr. Aizaz Khan; and members of the local embassy staff.
