According to an official statement, the decision was taken after consultations and careful review of the latest regional and internal developments. The Prime Minister Office stressed that the visit was important for strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Russia.

The new dates for the Russia visit will be decided later through mutual consultations between the two countries.

PM Shehbaz was expected to visit Moscow from March 3 to 5, as earlier reported by Russian state news agency RIA, quoting a Pakistani official.

Also Read: PM Shehbaz calls Khamenei martyrdom a ‘violation of international law’

The postponement comes at a time when Pakistan is continuing Operation Ghazab lil Haq against Afghanistan. So far, over 350 Taliban operatives have reportedly been killed. Fresh clashes broke out late Thursday night after what officials described as unprovoked action by the Taliban regime along the Pakistan Afghanistan border.

At the same time, tensions in the wider region have increased after the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Ambassador to Moscow Faisal Niaz Tirmizi told Arab media that Pakistan is seeking to sign a ‘preferential trade agreement’ with Russia to increase trade volume during the prime minister visit.

Also Read: Russian President condemns Khamenei’s killing as brutal act

Officials said bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russia rose by more than 100 percent to $1.81 billion from July 2023 to June 2024. However, there was a slight decline in the last fiscal year.

In simple words, this delay shows how serious the current situation is. Security and regional stability are clearly the top priorities right now. The Russia visit remains important, but timing matters in diplomacy. Once tensions ease, talks between the two countries are expected to move forward again.