ISLAMABAD – Pakistani military officers will receive training in RussianFederation military institutes under a recent agreement signed between thetwo countries.

The deal underscores Pakistan’s increasing reliance on Russia for itsmilitary needs amid strained relations with the US. It was signed earlierthis week during a visit by Russian Deputy Defence Minister Col GenAlexander Fomin.

The agreement comes as local media reported the US has stopped financingmilitary training in the US for Pakistani soldiers — a step that SenatorMushahid Hussain Sayed called “wrong and counterproductive.”

Mr Hussain, chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee, said the US isrepeating past mistakes through failed policy of trying to bully andbrowbeat Pakistan with such short-sighted sanctions. – APP