ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Russia have been able to “transcend” their historyof mistrust and rivalry, leading to a rapid improvement and expansion inbilateral political, military and economic ties, says Defence MinisterKhurram Dastgir.
The minister, currently attending an international security conference inMoscow, told Voice of America (VOA) prior to his departure that Islamabadsees Moscow’s growing involvement in Afghanistan as an importantdevelopment for promoting peace and countering terrorism in the war-ravagedcountry.
Islamabad’s relations with Moscow “stand at a positive place”, Dastgirnoted. “Both countries have, I believe, been able to transcend theirhistory and to have a fresh beginning.”
Dastgir said he was scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart, SergeiShoigu, on the sidelines of the ongoing security meeting to discuss how tofurther mutual defence relations.
Pakistani officials say Russia and Pakistan are also in talks for potentialmulti-billion-dollar energy deals, while Moscow will also build a gaspipeline linking Karachi and Lahore.
“It is a beginning because, of course, that history of mistrust andessentially standing on two opposite sides is there; but, both countries,because of many geo-strategic reasons, now find it a more optimal path tobe cooperating with each other,” noted Dastgir.
Dastgir blamed US President Donald Trump’s new South Asia strategy forcurrent strains in mutual ties, saying it seeks to scapegoat Pakistan forUS military failures in Afghanistan.
Dastgir, however, said Pakistan’s increased closeness with Russia, ordeepening of ties with traditional ally, China, “does not take awayanything” from relations with the US. “I want to emphasise that this neednot be in any way a zero-sum relationship with the United States. It isjust that Pakistan has done a regional recalibration of its foreign andsecurity policies,” he said.
When asked about US concerns that Russia could be attempting to undermineinternational efforts to stabilise Afghanistan by maintaining ties with theTaliban, the Pakistani minister said Russians are “very much inAfghanistan, they are in contact with them [theTaliban] and they talk tothe them.”
Dastgir echoed Russian concerns that Islamic State is increasing itsfootprint in “ungoverned” Afghan areas, threatening stability ofneighbouring countries, including Russia’s allied Central Asian states.
Both Islamabad and Moscow support efforts aimed at encouraging the Afghangovernment and the Taliban to open a peace dialogue to end the war anddeter terrorists from using the country to destabilise its neighbours,Dastgir added.
“Our role, as we see it, is now merely as facilitators of the dialogue asenvisioned by the Afghan government, so we will facilitate. For us, it is afact that Pakistan’s influence, whatever it had over the Taliban, hasgreatly reduced in the last half decade,” maintained the minister.
Dastgir was referring to a single meeting Pakistan hosted between Kabul andTaliban negotiators in July 2015. Islamabad maintains it was also able topersuade the insurgents to return to the negotiating table the followingyear, but a US drone strike killed Taliban chief Mullah Mansoor, scuttlingthe peace effort once again.
“We will still be able to talk to them but to expect that Pakistan in anyway can deliver the Taliban [to the table] is unrealistic,” said Dastgir.