ISLAMABAD – As US ditches Pakistan Military, Russia has stepped inimmediately to full the vaccum.

The signing of agreement with Russia for training of Pakistani militaryofficers coincided with the news that Trump administration has cut downcoveted training and educational programmes that have been a hallmark ofbilateral military relations for more than a decade.

How will it affect the already fractured ties between Washington andIslamabad is a matter of concern for the analysts and foreign relationsexperts.

The effective suspension of Pakistan from the US government’s InternationalMilitary Education and Training programme (IMET) will close off places thathad been set aside for 66 Pakistani officers this year, a State Departmentspokesperson told Reuters. The places will either be unfilled or given toofficers from other countries.

There were no official comments on the development but some experts believethat it is counterproductive for the bilateral ties.

Dan Feldman, a former US special representative for Afghanistan andPakistan, called the move “very short-sighted and myopic”.

The cut in training programme is likely to have little impact on Pakistanas it has already shifted its focus on military needs towards Russia andChina and latest accord with Moscow is a sign that both nations are gettingcloser than ever.

US media also expressed concerns and said the deal underscores ‘Pakistan’sincreasing reliance on Russia for its military needs amid strainedrelations with the US’.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who is also chairman of the Foreign Affairscommittee, called the step “wrong and counterproductive.”

The US is repeating past mistakes through failed policy of trying to bullyand browbeat Pakistan with such short-sighted sanctions, he furthercommented.

Current and former US officials said Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arguedagainst excluding Pakistani officers from IMET courses.