ISLAMABAD – In a foreign policy shift in the backdrop of the US souringrelations with Pakistan, Pakistan has decided to take relationship withRussia to new heights under Vladimir Putin who started his new term inoffice this week, officials said.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry told The Nation that Putin hadbeen ‘warm’ to Pakistan for years and Islamabad was happy over hiscontinuity at the Kremlin.
Putin took oath for a fourth term as Russia’s President on May 7 openinganother six years ruling the country where he has been in power for almosttwo decades.
A highly placed official at the foreign ministry said that Pakistan hadimmediately conveyed felicitations to the Russian leader and showedoptimism to work with him for a closer relationship.
“Under Putin, we have come out of the bitter memories of the cold war andstepped into a new phase of friendship. We hope to turn it into apartnership in the coming years. We aim to take the Pak-Russia to newheights,” he said.
Recently, Khawaja Mohammed Asif – then Foreign Minister – flew to Moscow onthe invitation of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federationto hold talks.
The visit was aimed to provide opportunity to explore ways and means tofurther strengthen cooperation in political, economic, trade andinvestment, defence, education and cultural fields.
A statement issued after the February talks said: “Russia enjoys a specialplace in our foreign policy. The relations between the two countries havebeen growing steadily in all fields. Regular high-level exchanges betweenthe two countries in the last few years is a manifestation of mutual desireof both sides for translating political good will into a substantive andmultidimensional partnership. The two countries are also celebrating the70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations this year.”
Asif and Lavrov had earlier met on the sidelines of the UN General Assemblysession in New York in September 2017. Last year, the Russian President hadoffered to mediate between Islamabad and New Delhi to ease tension in SouthAsia. The move was welcomed by Islamabad but India refused to oblige.
President Putin had also refused to condemn the 2016 Uri attack and Chinaalso denied support India’s bid for the Nuclear Suppliers Group membership.While China’s response was expected by Pakistan, Russia’s neutrality gavethem the boost they wanted as Islamabad took the Kashmir issue to theglobal powers.
Officials said Pak-Russia relationship was on a positive trajectory. Boththe sides have signed defence agreement, held joint military exercises andRussia was investing $2 billion in South-North gas pipeline project.
Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammed Faisal said Moscow and Islamabadhad shared aspirations for regional development and prosperity, and thatthe friendship between the two countries was fast evolving into a maturepartnership.
He reaffirmed the relations between the two countries were characterised bymutual trust, commonality of interests, and convergence of views onimportant regional and global issues.
“In the backdrop of multiple recent developments that have seenPakistan-Russia relations touch historic new heights, the anniversary ofRussia-Pakistan relations is being celebrated in both countries with greatfervour and zeal,” he said.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization, he said, provided a useful forum forenhancing mutually beneficial cooperation between its member states. Hesaid exercise “Peace Mission 2018” was being hosted by Russia in Septemberunder the SCO agreement on Conducting Joint Anti-Terrorist MilitaryExercises among the member states to which both Pakistan and India accededat the time of joining the organization in June 2017.
Former ambassador Mushtaq Ahmad Mehar in the past Russian tried to comecloser to Pakistan but Pakistan preferred the United States. “It is now abig change that ties between Pakistan and Russia are improving. There havebeen lots of ups and downs in the relations between Pakistan and Russia,”he said.