LONDON: Russia could back Pakistan and turn on India if it continues totrade with the West as Moscow and Islamabad pledge to improve defence ties,it has been claimed in a report.
New Delhi has placed large orders with Vladimir Putin but has previouslydone so under the condition Russia does not sell certain arms to Pakistan,said the paper, adding that India’s 2016 £4.1 billion ($5.5 billion) S-400surface-to-air missile deal was signed under these terms, said the report.
Express on Sunday quoted a Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) thinktank Pakistani expert as saying that Russia may continue to restrict theamount and type of weaponry offered to Pakistan but this stance couldchange if India continues purchasing equipment from the West.
James Hackett, defence analyst with the International Institute forStrategic Studies (IISS) think tank, added: “Russia is still very heavilyinvested in current and future Indian defence equipment. So in thiscontext, because of India’s potential reaction, Russia would likely weighcarefully any decision to significantly deepen defence ties with Pakistan.”
The report claimed that Indian experts visited Pakistan to discuss aspectsof bilateral ties between Islamabad and New Delhi to improve relations byreviving Track II diplomacy which involves the use of non-governmentalcontact to analyse possible solutions to tension and conflict.
The paper quoted a source as saying that the interactions between the twonuclear-armed states occurred between April 28 and April 30 in thePakistani capital of Islamabad.
Another source added according to the paper: “The two sides discussed allaspects of bilateral relations and agreed that all issues between the twocountries should be resolved through talks.”
Kanwal Sibal, India’s former foreign secretary, emphasised such dialoguebetween the two countries has been strained in recent years. He stated:“Neemrana has had a tough time over the past few years. Both sides feltthough that it was important to keep alive that tradition but I didn’t gobecause I don’t think it would yield significant results in the currentcircumstances.”
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Faisal, said: “Indiashould walk the talk and refrain from provocative statements. Our armedforces practice restraint but have the capacity and are ever vigilant togive a befitting response to any threat to the motherland.”