ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has started to make new foreign policy realignments after therelations with the United States has started to deteriorate due America’sstrategic tilt towards India.
After China now Pakistan has started to move towards Russia in regional andinternational fora.Pakistan has offered Russia a ‘multidimensional strategic partnership’ asthe two former cold-war rivals celebrate the 70th anniversary of theirdiplomatic relations.
“We believe that long term multidimensional strategic partnership betweenthe two countries will be mutually beneficial for the people of Pakistanand the Russian Federation and would contribute towards regional peace andstability,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Tuesday.
In the backdrop of multiple recent developments that have seenPakistan-Russia relations touch historic new heights, the event is beingcelebrated in both countries with great fervour and zeal, the statementadded.
Relations between Pakistan and Russia have already seen an unprecedentedimprovement in recent years in the fast changing regional scenario thatcompelled both the countries to align themselves to protect their mutualinterests.
But this is the first time that Pakistan has expressed its desire to takethe relationship to the next level. The move is seen as significant and aclear shift in Pakistan’s approach seeking greater cooperation with Russia.The shift is apparently necessitated by the United States’ hardlineapproach towards Pakistan.
Russia is also warming up to Pakistan given the fact that its long termally India is now establishing strategic partnership with the US.“Pakistan-Russia friendship is fast evolving into a mature partnership,”said Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal.
“Relations between the two countries are today characterised by mutualtrust, commonality of interests, and convergence of views on importantregional and global issues.
“Both countries have similar stakes in durable peace and stability in theircommon neighbourhood, and harbour shared aspirations for regionaldevelopment and prosperity,” the spokesperson added.
He said the upward trajectory is being maintained through sustained highlevel interaction through strong institutional mechanisms and cementingcooperation in such diverse fields as trade and commerce, banking andfinance, agriculture and industry, defence and security, education andtechnology, and energy and infrastructure development.
“The two countries have also collaborated closely at international forumsincluding the UN. Russia has been a strong supporter of Pakistan’smembership of SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation] which affords anotheruseful platform for close cooperation on matters of common concern,” Faisaladded.
He said Pakistan views Russia as an important global power, a significantdevelopment partner, and a salient contributor to regional stability.
Pakistan, Russia and China appear to have developed consensus on some ofthe regional issues including Afghanistan.