ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is ready to buy more military equipment from Russiadepending on the Pakistani military’s experience with the helicopters.

The deal came three years after Russia officially lifted an arms embargoagainst Pakistan, which had been in place since the Soviet-Afghan War.

The rocky US-Pakistan relationship over the past years has seen Washingtontime and again threatening to cut Islamabad’s military aid over its supportfor some terror groups, pushing the traditional US ally in the regiontowards Moscow.

Pakistan’s growing interest in Russian technology became more apparentearlier this year, when reports pointed to Islamabad’s willingness topurchase Russian S-400 missile defense systems, among other items.

“Russia has good tanks, helicopters, electronic equipment, air defensesystems that Pakistan may consider. The S-400 is a big ticket number and itwill all depend on our budget,” an unnamed Pakistani military official toldRussian state media in February.

India’s burgeoning military cooperation with the US has also played a rolein Pakistan’s tilt towards Russia.

As Pakistan’s arch-rival, India has made a $2 billion deal with the US tobuy 22 unarmed drones. Washington has also agreed to sell C130J SuperHercules and the C-17 Globemasters transport planes as well as the BoeingP-8 Poseidon spy aircraft to New Delhi.

The cooperation is expected to speed up under US President Donald Trump,who has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harboring terrorists.