Pakistan-Russia inch closer despite US concerns
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia are inching closer with each passing day in a major foreign policy shift.
Islamabad and Moscow, bitter rivals of the Cold War era have agreed to deepen cooperation in the energy, defence and economic fronts.
Pakistan and Russia had earlier held the first ever joint military exercises, a move which was not much appreciated in both Washington and New Delhi.
Russia is also providing Pakistan with the state of the art Mi-35 Military Helicopters for the counter terrorism purposes. Earlier Pakistan is using the United States made Cobras for the counter terrorism operations.
Pakistan has also signed deal with Russia for the supply of the Russian made engines for its JF- 17 Thunder fleet.
On military to military levels many such other deals and agreements are in pipeline which are likely to further enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Some of the Russian companies with which Pakistan is dealing have been black listed or sanctioned by United States of America.
Recently Pakistan and Russia have decided to jointly set up LPG air-mix plants in Pakistan in an effort to tackle a chronic energy crisis in the country.
Islamabad has started giving priority to deals with Russia despite the fact that there are US sanctions on the Russian firm nominated to implement the projects in Pakistan.
For establishing the LPG air-mix plants, Moscow has nominated RusGaz Engineering. Earlier, Russia had nominated RT Global to lay the LPG pipeline in Pakistan but the United States imposed sanctions on this entity which caused a delay in implementing this project.
The two countries are now working closely and have signed a government-to-government agreement for laying the North-South pipeline from Lahore to Karachi for LPG supply.
The north south pipeline project from Karachi to Lahore will cost over $2 billion and may be inaugurated in presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a move which may again annoy Pakistan long time friend US and may lay down the basis of the long term Pakistan-Russia ties.
