Pakistan's new ambassador to Russia presents credentials to President Putin

MOSCOW (Shahid Ghumman) – Pakistan’s newly appointed Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, formally presented his letters of credence to President Vladimir Putin during a dignified ceremony at the Kremlin Palace on Tuesday, marking the official start of his diplomatic tenure in Moscow.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Tirmizi conveyed warm greetings and messages of goodwill from the President of Pakistan, the Prime Minister, and the people of Pakistan to the Russian leader. The exchange underscored Islamabad’s intent to deepen engagement with Moscow at a time when bilateral ties are gaining fresh momentum across several strategic and economic sectors.

President Putin described Pakistan as a close partner of Russia, noting that cooperation between the two countries is expanding steadily, particularly in trade, diplomacy, education, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, railways, industry, healthcare and information technology. He highlighted that interaction between Russian and Pakistani institutions and businesses has been growing, reflecting broader political and economic convergence between the two states.

Ambassador Tirmizi assumed his duties in Moscow on 26 October 2025. His diplomatic priorities include strengthening cooperation in energy, trade, regional connectivity, culture, education and people to people contacts, alongside a focus on the welfare and support of the Pakistani community in Russia. These areas have been identified as central to building a more diversified and resilient bilateral partnership.

A senior career diplomat, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1995 and has held a range of key postings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at Pakistan’s missions abroad. His overseas assignments have included Turkmenistan, the United States, the United Nations and the United Arab Emirates, giving him extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy and regional engagement.

Prior to his posting in Moscow, he served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic from 2018 to 2019, followed by his tenure as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2022 to 2025. His work in the Gulf and Central Asia focused on economic diplomacy, expatriate welfare and expanding political outreach.

In recognition of his diplomatic services, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan awarded him the First Class Order of Zayed II, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. He is also a recipient of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Regional Anti Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS) Award, reflecting his contributions to regional security and cooperation.

The Kremlin ceremony, which formally accredited Ambassador Tirmizi as Pakistan’s envoy to Russia, comes as Islamabad and Moscow continue to broaden their engagement across economic, technological and institutional channels, reinforcing a partnership that has been gaining pace in recent years.