PM Nawaz will return to Pakistan after a two-day successful visit to Kazakhstan. Photo: file 

ASTANA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan on Saturday afternoon after a two-day successful visit to Kazakhstan.

However, the PM landed in Lahore due to bad weather conditions in Islamabad. 

Before their departure, the PM, accompanied by his wife,  visited Pakistan's stall at Astana's expo centre. Pakistan had set up a green energy stall at the expo. 

In an unofficial conversation, PM Nawaz had remarked that the Kashmir issue needs to be resolved immediately. Millions of Indian troops have been deployed in Indian occupied Kashmir, he said.

In order to improve relations with India, talks should be held on all relevant issues.

During the visit, PM held important meetings with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Russian President Vladimir Putin and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.

The prime minister also remarked that Pakistan has always tried its best to ensure that there is peace in Afghanistan, adding that the Afghan president agrees on the positive role played by Pakistan.

?We hope that Pakistan and Afghanistan relations become normal soon,? he added.

It is a historic day today, says PM as Pakistan joins SCO

Pakistan, along with India, has become permanent member of SCO

According to sources, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Pakistan has played an important role in eliminating terrorism from the region. Russian extended its help to Pakistan in overcoming different challenges being faced by the country in this regard, he said. 

During the visit, Pakistan was officially included in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which now has a total of eight states as permanent members ? after China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Other observer states and governments and international organisations are also part of the group.

The group will then represent nearly half of the world?s population after the inclusion of the subcontinental neighbours