Senator Mushahid Hussain, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence, suggested Pakistan’s potential membership in the BRICS bloc, highlighting Russian support as a pivotal factor given Russia’s 2024 BRICS chairmanship.
He emphasized the strengthening ties between Pakistan and Russia across multiple domains, including energy, connectivity, and education, as well as collaboration on regional security issues such as Afghanistan and at international forums like the SCO and UN.
Discussing the prospect of joining BRICS, Senator Hussain envisioned a future where four Muslim countries—Pakistan, Turkiye, Iran, and Saudi Arabia—would significantly influence regional dynamics. He commended President Putin’s stance against Islamophobia and acknowledged Russia’s favourable disposition towards Pakistan.
During his visit to Russia, invited by the United Russia party, Senator Hussain engaged with key Russian figures, including Dmitri Medvedev, Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman and former president, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Their discussions at the International Forum for Freedom of Nations plenary session covered bilateral relations, Afghanistan, the Gaza conflict, and broader cooperation between Islamabad and Moscow.
In a conversation with Medvedev, Senator Hussain speculated on the geopolitical shift a potential Donald Trump reelection in 2024 could bring to the region. He further outlined the absence of direct conflicts between Pakistan and Russia during a lecture at the Russian Diplomatic Academy, noting Pakistan’s neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict at the UN.
Additionally, Senator Hussain met with Senator Chizhov, President of the Russia-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, and members of the Pakistani community in Moscow, emphasizing three critical insights from his visit: the opportunity for renewed bilateral relations post-Afghanistan intervention, the necessity of regional foreign relations reset for enhancing connectivity with Russia and neighbouring states, and the unifying role of China as a strategic partner to both nations.
