ISLAMABAD -- The first visit by a Russian interior minister to Pakistan last week has opened avenues for closer cooperation between the two countries despite Moscow's recent efforts to bolster diplomatic relations with Afghanistan's Taliban regime and its longstanding relations with New Delhi.

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev visited Pakistan from Oct. 12 to 15 and was received by the country's president, prime minister, interior minister and chief of defense forces. A number of agreements were reached, including a memorandum of understanding on combating organized crime, and the finalization of extradition and prisoner transfer arrangements. A crime intelligence-sharing agreement was also discussed, according to the Interior Ministry.

A source involved in bilateral relations told Nikkei Asia on condition of anonymity that Kolokoltsev's visit is part of gradually improving ties. "If the agreements proposed during this visit materialized when Prime Minister [Shehbaz] Sharif visits Moscow later this year, then it could culminate with President [Vladimir] Putin visiting Pakistan next year," he said.

Apart from the crime-related agendas, economic cooperation will be a major part of the engagement, observers said.

Zaheer Aslam Janjua, Pakistan's ambassador to Moscow from 2014 to 2016, said economic relations would certainly be advanced with the connection of the International North-South Transport Corridor from Gwadar to St. Petersburg, facilitating exports of Russian liquefied natural gas and crude oil.

"Agreements on defense and arms sales may have to wait for a future date," he told Nikkei Asia.

Kolokoltsev's visit followed a meeting in New York with his Pakistani counterpart, Mohsin Naqvi, at the United Nations headquarters in July, when Naqvi officially invited Kolokoltsev to Pakistan.

Sahar Khan, a nonresident fellow at the New York-based Institute for Global Affairs, said: "Russia could become an important source for crude oil, wheat and fertilizer imports, and investment for Pakistan." She conceded, however, that the gap between diplomatic ambition and economic integration is well recognized since Russia is not a vital trading partner for Pakistan -- and unlikely to become one with U.S. sanctions. Observers also point to strategic differences between Islamabad and Moscow.

While Islamabad has engaged in sporadic armed conflict with the Afghan Taliban since last year, Russia became the first country to recognize the Taliban government last July, and has accredited a Taliban ambassador to Moscow. The two sides also signed a military technical cooperation agreement in May this year.

Their differences over the Afghan situation remain clear. At the eighth Moscow Format meeting -- a regional framework discussing Afghan security and stability -- on Oct. 5, Pakistan raised concerns about "terrorism" emanating from Afghanistan, which were disputed by Kabul. That led to a failure to issue a joint statement at the end of the Russian-led meeting.

Kamran Yousaf, a foreign affairs analyst based in Islamabad, told Nikkei Asia that Pakistan and Russia have different views on dealing with the Taliban. "So, while there is growing cooperation, those differences will continue to test how far the relationship can go," he said.

Khan of the Institute for Global Affairs said several obstacles remain to implementing the proposed cooperation agreement. "Intelligence sharing also raises questions about trust, information security, and the extent to which both countries are willing to exchange operationally useful information," she said. "Pakistan will always tread carefully with Russia because of Russia's good relationship with India." Some experts expect Sharif's Moscow visit to come before the end of the year and that it will help narrow the gap.

"From Pakistan's perspective, it will be an opportunity to have candid discussions with the Russian leadership on a range of issues, including Afghanistan and the ongoing conflict in West Asia, while also looking at ways to deepen bilateral economic ties," Yousaf said.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in which both Pakistan and Russia are member states, is also scheduled to hold its summit in Islamabad in August 2027.

Janjua, Pakistan's former ambassador to Moscow, said that the Russian president rarely skips SCO summits, so it would be a surprise if Putin fails to turn up in Islamabad next August.

"If he does come, it would be a significant moment because no Russian president has ever visited Pakistan," he said.

"The symbolism would be important, but ultimately the question will be whether that political momentum can be translated into concrete cooperation at a time when global and regional politics are undergoing a major transformation." Adnan Aamir is a contributing writer.