MOSCOW, July 8: Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri arrived here on Thursday at the start of an official visit to Russia.

He was received at the Sheremetyevo airport by third director of the Asia Department Gleb. A. Ivashentsov and Pakistan's ambassador to Moscow S. Iftikhar Murshed.

Mr Kasuri was to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Friday and would hold talks on issues related to bilateral cooperation and the measures to strengthen relations in political, economic, commercial and defence sectors.

Both foreign ministers would also share views on regional and international issues, including the dialogue with India, stability in Afghanistan, terrorism and drug trafficking. -APP