Mumbai: Describing Pakistan as an important country in South Asian region in the Islamic world and an important player in the international political arena, Russia has said the recent peace initiative taken by the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with its neighbour was for a move towards world peace in general.

The Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov's visit to Pakistan after 10 years was also equally significant in the same direction, Gleb Ivashentov, director for South and South West Asia, Russian foreign Affairs Ministry, said at a round-table meeting on June 17 evening.

"We need constructive dialogue with Pakistan on the international problems, as it is an important country in the area in the Islamic world and an important actor in the international arena," he said.

"Even we had some problems with Pakistan, but it will not be good if we do not solve these problems in the larger interest of solving world problems, Ivashentov who had recently accompanied Ivanov to Pakistan and New Delhi, said.

The recent visit of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to Russia – a visit of a Pakistani President after 30 years – itself shows the importance of Pakistan's intention to have co-operation with other countries in the region, Ivashentov said adding launching of a communication satellite for Pakistan by Russia is an example of such co-operation.

"Russia had a number of industrial co-operations with Pakistan earlier and therefore, we can have participation now in their power plant modernisation, oil pipelines and in space programmes," Ivashentov also a former consul general in the city, said.

PTI