Russia, Pakistan discuss strategic stability, military use of AI

By Elena Teslova and Riyaz ul Khaliq

MOSCOW / ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian and Pakistani officials held consultations to discuss strategic stability including military use of artificial intelligence (AI), according to a joint statement released on Thursday.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and senior Pakistani Foreign Affairs officer Mohammad Kamran Akhtar on Wednesday led the 14th round of the Pakistan-Russia Consultative Group on Strategic Stability, first established in 2003.

The two sides held an "in-depth exchange of views on international security and regional stability challenges, as well as on various aspects of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation," the statement said.

It added the Pakistani and Russian diplomats discussed "with interest" issues falling under the UN Disarmament and International Security Committee, and other relevant international bodies including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

"The issues concerning biological, space and international information security, as well as new and emerging technologies, including the military use of artificial intelligence (AI), came under discussion at length," said the statement.

Both sides were satisfied with "the similarity of views on the majority of issues of global strategic stability, regional security including matters related to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation," it added.

They expressed "readiness to continue close coordination at relevant international platforms and emphasized importance" of regular meetings of the consultative group.

The next meeting is scheduled in Islamabad.