MOSCOW, August 24. /TASS/. Enhancing relations between Moscow and Islamabad is significantly vital for regional and international security, Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, said on Wednesday at a working meeting with Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs Committee, Rashad Mahmood.

"The development of constructive relations between Russia and Pakistan is an important factor in ensuring regional stability and international security," Gerasimov said.

He emphasized that the meetings between the Russian and Pakistani defense ministers "have given a powerful stimulus to the development of relations between our armed forces." "We are optimistic about the prospects of cooperation between our defense ministries," he added.

Gerasimov pointed out that Russia and Pakistan are planning "an intensive program" of joint events for 2016, including talks between the two countries’ general staffs, military exercises and an exchange of military delegations.