Pakistan has had a whole history of frosty relations with Soviet Union and now Russia. The fact that Sharif's visit is the first by a Pakistan Prime Minister, in 25 years, speaks volumes for the state of relations between the two countries.

No agenda for the talks, has officially been announced. Russian Foreign Ministry sources have said, trade and economic cooperation, Afghanistan, the Kosovo crisis and nuclear issues are expected to be discussed.

The visit is overshadowed by Pakistan's recent test-firing of Ghauri-II and Shaheen missiles. Russia has already expressed ``alarm'' over the test-launching, saying Pakistan's move ``can trigger a race of nuclear missile armaments in Asia.''

During the talks, Russia is expected to urge Sharif to exercise restraint in the nuclearmissile competition with India.

On the eve of the visit, Russian Foreign Ministry officials have conveyed in no uncertain terms to Pakistan that Moscow had no intention of taking any steps which may harm the time-tested friendship between Russia and India.

Russia would not try to improve its tense relations with Pakistan, at ``the cost of its traditional friendship with India,'' Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said on Saturday.

Ministry sources have also made it clear that Russian remains committed to its long-standing view on Kashmir issue. ``Even if Sharif raises the issue, he will be told Russia's stand for a political solution of the problem, on bilateral basis, in accordance with the Simla agreement,'' an official said earlier.

According to Russian diplomatic sources, the two sides will focus on Afghanistan, as what they believe, the Afghan issue has been the greatest stumbling block in the improvement of relations between Russia and Pakistan.

Russia has repeatedly expressed its concernover the increasing threats posed by the Taliban Islamic fundamentalists to the Central Asian countries.

During the talks, the Russian side is expected to ask Pakistan to use its influence to pressure the Taliban to reach agreement on a power-sharing deal with the Afghan opposition and stop fundamentalists from destablizing the region, strategically so important to Russia.

On the Kosovo crisis, Russia is expected to convey its unhappiness over Islamabad's recent statement to send Pakistani troops to Kosovo. Pakistani side will be urged to take a ``balanced stand,'' in view of the Russian sensitivity on the issue, as Russia is a Slavic traditionally of Yugoslavia, the source said.

On the trade and economic cooperation, a frame-work agreement is expected to be signed during the visit, forming the basis for future bilateral cooperation.