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Background
When Pakistan came into existence in 1947, Russia was known as the
Godless Empire of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under brutal dictator
Joseph Stalin. From the day of its independence, Pakistan’s relations with
the former Soviet Union (Russia) have been subject to a fundamental
question which most experts both in the academic and practitioner circles
identify as the foundation stone of Pakistan-Russia Relations.
It would be an important relationship for Pakistan to become a regional
partner of Russia which is a major regional and world power, having great
economic potential.
Pak-Russian relations have been marred by historical legacies, overemphasized western dependence and Pakistan’s Endocentric approach.
There have been many ups and downs in the history of their relations but
most of the times they have perceived each other in negative mindset;
Pakistan through the prism of western perception and the Soviets/Russia
through the Indian eyes.
Both countries have strong potential to improve their relations in the fast
changing regional and global security environment but it depends how both
countries utilize the new opportunities knocking their doors.
While Pakistan needs Russian investment for reviving its economy due to
dwindling American aid, Russia also eyes Pakistan as a good destination for
its investments and trade, with India getting closer to the US and Europe in
its place. It is in this light that the recent progress in Pak-Russian relations
is being seen. Another helping factor in this growing closeness is the
strategic partnership India and the US have struck. Therefore, whatever the
constraints, the relationship has strong prospects. And Pakistan has to keep
its diplomatic focus on this mutual interest.
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>1948 (diplomatic relations)
Diplomatic relations between two our countries were established on May 1,
1948 through the agreement concluded in New York by Sir Zafrulla Khan,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, and Andrei A. Gromyko, the First
Deputy Foreign Minister of the USSR, and succeeded by a consequent
exchange of the relevant notes. Shortly the Embassies of the USSR and
Pakistan commenced their functioning.
Although Pakistan could not ignore its giant neighbor to the north, it
initially preferred the idea of an alliance with the west rather than with the
communist powers. At the end of 1948 the first trade delegation from USSR
visited Pakistan.
>1949
In June 1949, however, frustrated by the indifference of the United States,
Liaquat accepted an offer to visit the USSR. This promptly led to an
invitation from United States, and Liaquat chose to visit the Americans
instead where President Truman requested Pakistan’s premier to let the CIA
formulate a base in Pakistan, strictly to keep an eye on the activities of
Soviet Union—a request which was not granted by Khan. This was
undoubtedly a serious step as far as relations with the USSR were
concerned.
In November of 1949 representatives of the Union of Soviet Writers came to
Lahore. During the first years after establishment of diplomatic relations
trade between the USSR and Pakistan was carried on under single
contracts.
>1950 _53
By 1950, the soviets were shifting from a neutral position on Kashmir and
other India/Pakistan questions to a more pro Indian stance.
>1954 (PAKISTAN JOINED SEATO)
On March–April 1954, a delegation of the Soviet cultural troupe toured
Pakistan and a festival of the Soviet films was held in Karachi. To
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reciprocate this, the Pakistani Government also sent a delegation to study
the Soviet industrial and agricultural development.
In May of 1954 Pakistan signed Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement with
the United States and subsequently became a member of SEATO (South
East Asian Treaty Organization). Under the agreement, many Pakistani
soldiers went to United States for training whereas US also established a
Military Assistance Advisory Group (Maag) in Rawalpindi.
>1955 (Pakistan joined cento)
In 24 February 1955, a military agreement was signed between Iraq and
Turkey, and the term "Baghdad Pact" started to be used. Iran, Pakistan, and
the United Kingdom join the Baghdad Pact or Central Treaty Organization
(CENTO). Its goal was to seize the Soviet Union (USSR) by having a band of
powerful states along the USSR’s South Western frontier, which Soviet
Union did not welcome.
In December 1955, the Soviet leaders visited India and, much to India’s
satisfaction, not only declared wholehearted support for Indian claim to
Kashmir, but also started a programme of economic and technical
assistance with India.
>1956 (TRADE AGREEMENT)
In spite of this, the soviets always declared their intention to develop good
relations with Pakistan and stated that it was up to the Pakistan
government to improve relations by stopping its anti-Soviet policy. On
March 23, 1956 at Moscow, First Deputy Premier Vyacheslav Molotov
offered a steel mill and welfare of Muslims in Soviet Union. Back in Karachi
Soviet First Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Mikoyan promised more aid, atomic
energy, and more trade.
As a result of his visit a Trade Agreement was signed in June 1956 but
Pakistan government refused an offer of soviet aid which included the
establishment of a steel mill in Pakistan. It was a genuine breakthrough
when the parties signed the first intergovernmental trade agreement in
1956, granting most-favored nation treatment to each other.
>1957
In July 1957, Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy approved the
leasing of a secret ISI installation, near the Peshawar Air Base to the CIA. [6]
After having staged the military coup d’état against President Iskander
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Mirza, Army Commander Ayub Khan visited the United States, thus further
enhancing relations with the U.S., while at the same time, tried establishing
link with the Soviet Union through Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
>1958
In 1958, Soviet Union agreed to provide Pakistan a handful of aid in
agriculture, economic assistance, and in diverse fields such as science,
control of pest, flood control, desalination, soil erosion and technical
assistance.
Pakistan and Soviet Union finally established an oil consortium, Pakistan
Oilfields, and expressing interests in establishing the country’s first steel
mills.
>1959
In 1959, Ayub Khan permitted the reconnaissance flights and covert
surveillance flights of U-2, giving the authorization of final U-2 flight, piloted
by USAF Captain Francis Gary Powers.
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>1960 (U-2 INCIDENCE)
One of the most serious incidents in Soviet-Pakistan relations occurred in
May 1960 when U-2 was shot down by the soviets while flying over the
USSR. The Americans tried to deny that it was on a spying mission, but it
transpired that the pilot had been captured alive. Much to Soviet fury, it was
also revealed that the plane had taken off from an American base in
Peshawar. The Pakistan government denied any knowledge of the plane’s
purpose although Ayub Khan knew of this operation, understanding the
consequences and the aftermath. The Soviets threatened that if any future
missions were launched from Pakistan, the soviets would destroy the base.
The U-2 incident severely compromised Pakistan security and worsened
relations between the Soviet Union and Pakistan, with Soviets now backing
India. During this time, the Indian nuclear programme expanded and
progressed at very exponential level. As an attempt to put up a bold front,
former chief of army staff General Khalid Mahmud Arif while commenting on
the incident stated that,
“Pakistan felt deceived because the U.S. had kept her in the dark
about such clandestine spy operations launched from Pakistan’s
territory”
>1961
By 1961, however, tension between the two nations had considerably
subsided, the soviets agreed to undertake oil exploration in Pakistan.
>1962
In 1962 Indo-Chinese war helped Pakistan’s relations with the Soviet Union
as India’s acceptance of western arms antagonized the Soviets. Pakistan’s
relations with the United States correspondingly deteriorated because the
United States had provided India with military aid.
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>1963
In 1963, the soviets were also keen to prevent Pakistan/Chinese friendship
from developing much further and in august 1963 agreed to give Pakistan a
£11 million loan.
Further, there was a shift in the Soviet position on Kashmir from outright
support for India to a more neutral stance.
>1964
In the midst of the 1960s Societies for Friendship and Cultural Relations
between the peoples of the two countries were established. The Pakistani
Society was headed by the outstanding poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Laureate of
the International Lenin Prize for Strengthening Peace among Peoples.
Representatives of academic and creative circles’ intelligentsia of both
countries formed a core of those organizations. Scholars of the Pakistani
Studies’ Sector of the Institute of Oriental Studies under the USSR Academy
of Sciences established in 1964 also vigorously participated in the activities
of the Soviet Society.
>1965 (ROLE IN INDO-PAK WAR)
The first bilateral Agreement on Cultural and Scientific Cooperation signed
in 1965 became a notable landmark. Contacts between public characters
and scientists of the USSR and Pakistan were found revitalized.
The USSR played a pivotal role in the armed conflict of 1965 between
Pakistan and India, as the biggest supplier of military hardware to India.
India on other hand, distanced from the Western countries, developed close
relations with the Soviet Union. Soviet Union and India used the diplomacy,
convincing the U.S. and Western powers to keep a ban on Pakistan's
military and hardware.
The Soviet Union had far more better relations with East-Pakistan (Now
Bangladesh), and had strong ties with Communist Party after successfully
staging the protest to give national recognition to the language as compare
to Urdu in 1956 constitution.
As the result of President Ayub Khan’s visit to the Soviet Union, both
countries concluded another agreement for cultural exchanges that was
signed on 5 June 1965. This agreement was on the basis of exchange the
academicians, scholars, scientists, artists, sportsmen, and also the
exchange of music records, radio and television programs.
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>1966_67
Russia’s one effort to broker an India-Pakistan agreement took place in
1966, when a Russian-hosted conference in Tashkent essentially restored
the status quo between India and Pakistan after their 1965 war.
In West-Pakistan, the Soviet relations had improved after the formation of
leading democratic socialist Pakistan People’s Party. The tendency of
socialism was greater in West Pakistan, in contrast to East Pakistan were
the tendency of communism was at its height. After the 1965 war, Soviet
relations with socialist mass, Awami National Party, Pakistan People's Party,
and the Pakistan Socialist Party, impulsively improved.
>1968
On 17 April 1968, Premier Kosygin paid a visit to Pakistan and was
welcomed by President Ayub and the Pakistan’s civil society members with
cordial manner. During his visit Alexi Kosygin said:
“That relations between Pakistan and the Soviet Union are very good
indeed and we should want more and more to strengthen and better
them.”
Kosygin agreed to the granting of aid for a steel mill, a nuclear power plant
and also economic aid on a broad range of development projects. During the
time of Kosygin’s reception, renowned poet Hafez Jullundhri sang out a
poem, comparing Kosygin’s visit to the coming of the dawn, which would
bring self-determination and justice to the Kashmiri people. Kosygin enjoyed
the amusing poetry, but remained silent on this issue.
>1969
To reciprocate the visit of Kosygin, President General Yahya Khan visited
Moscow in 1969; where a deal for the provision of some helicopters to
Pakistan was signed.
Soviet offered an economic aid for Pakistan on Yahya’s visit to Moscow 1969
and in return demanding from Pakistan for the endorsement of Brezhnev’s
Asian Security System and permission for establishing a Russian radio
center at Badabar.
Pakistan Government employed “V/o Tyaz Promexport”, a USSR technical
consortium, for vertically integrated steel mills in Karachi, Sindh Province.
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>1970
The Brezhnev’s Asian Security System demand was openly rejected by
Pakistan which culminated into Soviet annoyance, Indo-Soviet Treaty of
Friendship in 1970.
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>1971(role in indo-pak war 1971)
The Soviet Union played a decisive role in the 1971 winter war, first signing
the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. The Soviet Union
sympathized with the Bangladeshis, and supported the Indian Army and
Mukti Bahini during the war, recognizing that the independence of
Bangladesh would weaken the position of its rivals—the United States,
Saudi Arabia, and China.
On 6 December and 13 December 1971, the Soviet Navy dispatched two
groups of cruisers and destroyers and a nuclear submarine armed with
nuclear missiles from Vladivostok; they trailed U.S. Task Force 74 into the
Indian Ocean from 18 December 1971 until 7 January 1972.
The Soviets also had a nuclear submarine to help ward off the threat posed
by USS Enterprise task force in the Indian Ocean. The Soviet Navy’s
presence had put a threat of existence for Pakistan, with the Soviet nuclear
submarines’ K-320 and Charlie, of which movements were picked up by
Pakistan Navy’s submarines. The Pakistan Navy’s submarines Ghazi,
Hangor, and Mangor had sent solid evidence of Soviet Navy’s covert
involvement helping the Indian Navy, and Soviet Navy’s own secret
operations against Pakistan Navy. Pakistan Navy avoided aggressive
contacts with the Soviet Navy due to possible nuclear retaliation by Soviet
nuclear submarines in Karachi. The USSR also kept vetoing every resolution
regarding the East Pakistan situation that Pakistan brought to the UN.
>1972
While there, Bhutto succeeded to convince the Soviet Union to establish the
integrated steel mills, which prompted the Soviet Union to provide funds for
the billion dollar project. Prime Minister Bhutto made a deliberate attempt
to warm relations with Russia as he was trying to improve relations with the
Communist. Bhutto sought to develop and alleviate the Soviet-Pak
Relations, as the Soviet Union established Pakistan Steel Mills in 1972.
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>1973
The foundation stone for this gigantic project was laid on 30 December
1973 by the then Prime Minister Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Facing
inexperience for the erection work of the integrated steel mill, Bhutto
requested Soviet Union to send its experts. Soviet Union sends dozens of
advisors and experts, under Russian scientist Mikhail Koltokof, who
supervised the construction of this integrated Steel Mills, with a number of
industrial and consortium companies financing this mega-project.
>1974_75
In 1974, Bhutto paid a tiring and lengthy state visit to Soviet Union,
becoming the first prime minister since the independence of Pakistan in
1947. Bhutto and his delegation was met with great jubilation, a warmhearted celebration took place after Bhutto was received by Alexei Kosygin
in Moscow. The honorary guard of honor was offered by the Soviet Armed
Forces, and a strong interaction took place between the two countries
during Bhutto’s democratic era. Bhutto also met Leonid Brezhnev and
Pakistan concluded agreements with Soviet Union on mutual trust,
cooperation, technical assistance, and friendship.
>1976
By 1976 a medium-wave broadcasting radio station had been erected in the
vicinities of Islamabad with the USSR assistance. The USSR continued to
assist in searching oil, gas and other natural resources in the Pakistan’s
territory.
>1977
This interaction was short lived after popular unrest began to take place
after the 1977 elections. With United States support, the CIA-sponsored
operation codenamed Fair Play removed Bhutto from power in 1977.
>1978
With General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haque coming to power relations between
the two countries entered into hard times once more. Political contacts grew
short and volume of trade, economic and cultural ties decreased.
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>1979
So the Soviet relations with Pakistan came to deterioration on April 4, 1979,
when Bhutto was executed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Earlier,
Leonid Brezhnev, Alexei Kosygin, and other members of the Politburo had
sent repeated calls for clemency to the CMLA General Muhammad Zia-ulHaque who straightaway rejected the Soviet requests. Brezhnev maintained
that issue concerning Bhutto’s trial was Pakistan’s internal matter yet did
not wish to see him executed. When Bhutto was hanged, Brezhnev
condemned the act out of “purely humane motives”.
>1980
During the Soviet Occupation of Afghanistan in 1980’s, Pakistan sided along
USA in Soviet withdrawal from its soil, so Pak-USSR relations remained
hostile.
In 1980, the relationship took a dangerous turn, when Soviet press, notable
"Pravda" and other Soviet commentators, began to issue threatening
statements towards Pakistan. Soviet Commentator, V Baikov, went far
enough to say: The axis of United States and China, is trying to secure a
base for its rapid deployment force, presumable offering F-16 fighter plans
in that view. Another Soviet commentator "threateningly" asked Pakistan
that,
"If she (Pakistan) thought about where the United States was pulling it
in its hostilities with Afghanistan; their aggression was taking place in
the vicinity of the USSR".
In February 1980, a delegation of TASS in New York maintains that, “One
can see the contours of dangerous plans aimed at Pakistan's arch rivals—
India, Soviet Union, and Afghanistan.” The change of administration in 1980
and immediate verbal threat of Soviet Union to Pakistan brought the United
States and Pakistan on a six-year trade, economic and military agreement,
valuing approximately ~32.5 billion US dollars.
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>1981
The U.S. viewed the conflict in Afghanistan as an integral Cold War struggle,
and the CIA provided assistance to anti-Soviet forces through the ISI, in a
program called Operation Cyclone. The siphoning off of aid weapons, in
which the weapons logistics and coordination were put under Pakistan Navy
in the port city of Karachi, contributed to disorder and violence there, while
heroin entering from Afghanistan to pay for arms contributed to addiction
problems.
The Pakistan Navy also coordinated with the supply of foreign weapons into
Afghanistan, while some of its high-ranking admirals were responsible for
storing the weapons in the Naval Logistics Depot. The Pakistani naval
commanders rendered their cooperation for the weapons supply programme
to the Mujahedeen out of complete revenge because of Pakistan Navy’s
terrible loss and defeat at the hands of Soviet Navy in 1971.
>1982
In November 1982, General Zia traveled to the Soviet capital to attend the
funeral of Leonid Brezhnev, then General Secretary of the Communist Party
of the Soviet Union. Soviet President Andrei Gromyko and the new
Secretary-General Yuri Andropov met with Zia where a brief meeting took
place at the Kremlin. The Soviet leader, the new Secretary General of the
Communist Party of the USSR, Yuri Andropov was angry at Pakistan’s
covert involvement in supporting the Afghan resistance against the Soviets
and their satellite state Afghanistan. Soviet leaders expressed their
indignation to the General.
Then General Zia took his hand and told Andropov,
“Mr. Secretary General… Believe me; Pakistan wants nothing but good
and healthy relations with the Soviet Union”.
According to Andrei Gromyko, Zia’s sincerity had caught everybody off
guards and in that meeting everyone believed him but sadly found that his
words did not match his actions.
Ironically, Zia also dealt directly with Israel, working to build covert relations
with the Zionist state allowing her to actively participate in the Soviet’s war
in Afghanistan. Helped by ISI, the Mossad channeled Soviet reversed
engineered weapons to Afghanistan. In Charlie Wilson’s own words, Zia
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reported to have remarked to Israeli intelligence service: “Just don’t put any
stars of David on the boxes”.
>1983_89
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) authorized
further aggressive military operations in Afghanistan to topple the fragile
communist regime and to end the Soviet influence. One of her military
authorizations was the military action in Jalalabad [Afghanistan] in
retaliation of Soviet Union’s long standing, unconditional support to India, a
proxy war in Pakistan, and Pakistan’s loss in 1971 war. This operation was
“a defining moment for her [Benazir’s] government” to prove the loyalty to
Pakistan Armed Forces.
The operation was planned by then-Director General of the Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant-General Hamid Gul, and the U.S. ambassador
to Pakistan Robert Oakley. Known as Battle of Jalalabad, it was intended to
gain a conventional victory over Soviet Union after the latter had withdrawn
its troops. But the operation failed miserably and the Afghan army
supported by Soviet scuds won the battle resulting in ISI chief being sacked
by the Prime Minister.
At the end years of Cold War, Soviet Union announced to establish a
1000MW commercial nuclear power plant in Pakistan, but after witnessing
its aging technology Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, later followed by Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif, did neither authorize the purchase nor showed any
interests in aging Soviet technology.
In the contemporary environment, Russia and Pakistan have the unanimity
of views for bring regional peace, and stability in Afghanistan, following the
drawdown of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan. Under the changing
regional and global scenario, a close cooperation on strategic and security
issues between Russia and Pakistan is indeed, vital. There already is
evolving a strategic partnership between China and Russia for the
promotion of regional peace and in order to undo the global hegemony of an
outside power. Apart from its close cooperation with China, Pakistan seeks
Russian economic assistance in the form of foreign direct investment and
technological cooperation particularly in the energy field. Russia seems
inclined to responding to these needs in addition to increasing trade volume
from current $600 million to $1 billion in next decade.
As a result of a decade of uncertain relations, an extensive trust gap existed
between Islamabad and Kremlin by this point. Pakistan was perceived as an
unreliable ally, with ‘dual natured’ relationships. It was Pakistan’s active
support of the Afghan resistance forces against the Soviet invasion however
that turned the relationship hostile.
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>1990
I990s were a decade of proxy engagement in Afghanistan, where foreign
policy between the two countries was dictated and framed by the constraints
of international pressures, and were thus mostly reactionary, with limited
vision and scope.
In addition to national security imperatives, mounting international
pressures were partially responsible for Pakistan’s stance on the Soviet
invasion of Afghanistan. The era saw the climax of anti-communist
uprisings and campaigns across the globe, and the utter lack of support for
the Afghan invasion even by other Communist groups encouraged Pakistan
to further adjust itself with the USA. Given Pakistan’s geo-strategic location,
there was no ‘third’ or neutral option.
Thus, trade and economic interrelations between the two countries
considerably leveled down. Worsening of macroeconomic situation and
beginning transition to market society in Russia objectively contributed to
that. At the same time, political dialogue had been gradually gaining its
momentum.
>1991
The world has changed rapidly since the formal end of the Soviet Union in
December 1991. Pakistan’s relations with the Russian Federation, which
emerged as the successor state to the USSR, are quite inseparable from the
legacy of more than four decades of earlier Pakistan-Soviet relations. While
the new situation provided a major opportunity for a fresh beginning in
Islamabad-Moscow relations, which was taken up by both sides, the
foundation for it were laid earlier, as shown above, during a period when
major irritants existed. High level bilateral contacts took place between
Pakistan and the Russian Federation immediately thereafter. It seemed for
some time that in the changed geo-political global scenario after the collapse
of the Soviet Union, that Moscow tended to accord greater attention to
Pakistan and other Muslim countries on its southern periphery.
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>1992_93
In November 1992, Sardar Assef Ali, as Pakistan’s Minister of State for
Economic Affairs, visited Moscow, followed by his well-known tour of the
Central Asian States. Pakistan’s first ministerial visit to the Russian
Federation, after years of neglect by past governments, was a major initiative
and contributed significantly to the opening up of a new chapter in
Pakistan’s relations with the Russian Federation. In reciprocation, the then
Russian Vice President, Alexander Rutskoi, visited Pakistan in December
1992. Russia’s new appraisals considered Pakistan as a crucial factor to
any political settlement in Afghanistan, inclusive of its help to Moscow to get
back its Russian POWs. The joint communique issued at the time of
Rutskoi’s visit said that it was the policy of the Russian government ‘to
develop relations with Muslim states on new principles, devoid of ideological
obstacles and based on mutual respect, goodwill and mutual benefit’.
The joint communique was significant in many ways. It reiterated Russia’s
support for the Pakistani proposal of a nuclear-free zone in South Asia. It
also welcomed the Pakistani proposal for a five-nation conference on nuclear
non-proliferation in the region. Moreover, the mention of Kashmir in the
joint communique was worded in a manner advantageous to Pakistan. The
Russian side acknowledged Pakistan’s position on Kashmir and expressed
the hope that the issue would be resolved peacefully through negotiations
between Pakistan and India on the basis of international agreements. The
two sides also discussed a draft agreement for cooperation in the political,
economic, commercial, scientific, technical and cultural fields. It expressed
the hope that there existed good prospects for ‘initiating mutually beneficial
cooperation in the field of economy and trade’. It was also agreed to hold
regular contacts between the parliamentarians, and between their respective
foreign policy and defense establishments. As a pointer to growing warmth
in Pakistan-Russia relations, an international conference was held in
Moscow in April 1992 on relations between Pakistan and the CIS.
Several high-level exchanges of delegations have taken place between the
two sides since then. A broad range of bilateral issues have been discussed
during these visits, which, besides highlighting other areas of cooperation,
also included proposals for the collaboration in the field of defense, outer
space, technology and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. That also is proof of
the Russian desire to upgrade relations with Pakistan, in it a radical
departure from the earlier Soviet-day policy of treating Pakistan as an
adversary.
>1994
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Sardar Assef Ali, again visited Moscow from 3-5
July, 1994. During his visit, he held talks with his Russian counterpart,
Andrei Kozyrev, and met other senior functionaries of the Russian
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government. The two sides discussed a number of international and bilateral
issues – the situation in South Asia, the Kashmir problem, Afghanistan and
Central Asia including developments in Tajikistan, and Bosnia. During the
visit, the two foreign ministers signed a protocol on holding regular
consultations between the foreign ministers of the two countries, and an
agreement on the abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic passports. The
signing of these two agreements signified the fact that Pakistan-Russia
relations had come a long way from the animosity of the Cold War era.
Russian President, Boris Yelstin, extended an invitation to Pakistan’s Prime
Minister, Benazir Bhutto, to visit Russia in December 1994, which reflected
that Moscow was serious about establishing a more balanced relationship
with Pakistan. The visit was, however, postponed due to the domestic
problems of Pakistan.
>1995_98
On September 24, 1995, leader of the Russian Parliamentary delegation to
Pakistan, Alexander Vengerovsky, disclosed that Russia was ready to supply
military hardware to Pakistan. He further said that Russian technology
could find its way into many fields of Pakistani markets.
>1999
The visit of former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, to Moscow in April 1999,
was termed by the Russian President as ‘a new chapter in relations between
the two countries oriented into the 21st Century’. Prime Minister Sharif’s
visit, the first by a Pakistani premier in 25 years, may have broken the ice in
bilateral relations, but the two sides failed to sign any further significant
treaty, after the political treaty initialed in 1994. The only agreement
reached was the creation of an inter-governmental commission for trade and
economics. Russia and Pakistan signed a bilateral document on trade and
economic cooperation to replace the 1956 agreement. Pakistan failed to elicit
any further favorable response from their Russian counterparts regarding
the increased sale of military hardware to Pakistan. The Kremlin leaders
could no longer ignore the basic geo-political fact that India remained by far
the more important partner for it in South Asia in comparison with
Pakistan, which had been a major partner of the Soviet Union during the
days of the Cold War.
However, both Russia and Pakistan, during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s
visit held similar views on many international issues, in particular, their
‘support to the non-proliferation regime and the settlement of conflicts by
political means’. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asked for Russia’s assistance
for the resolution of out-standing problems of South Asia, such as the
Kashmir dispute, saying that his government was ready to go on working in
that direction, and expressed the desire that Russia should also promote the
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normalization of relations between the two major countries of the region.
Regarding Russia’s role in India-Pakistan relations, the Russian Foreign
Minister, Igor Ivanov, stated that Russia had fulfilled and continued to fulfill
an important mission, aimed at the normalization of relations between India
and Pakistan. Both sides spoke out in favor of asserting the principles of
stability and security in the world, and expressed their commitment to the
creation of a multi-polar world, based on the respect for the UN Charter and
international law.
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>2000
During the September 2000 visit of Sergei Yastrzemski, the Security Chief
of the Russian government, to Pakistan, in the discussions that took place
the situation in Afghanistan was on the top of the agenda. The Russia
Security Chief termed his trip as having inspired a ‘cautious optimism’,
dependent on political declarations being followed by ‘concrete deeds’. On
the possibility of a visit by President Putin to Pakistan, the Security Chief
added it was conditional on whether Islamabad showed its readiness to heed
Russia’s concerns about ‘the situation in the region and in Central Asia,
including Afghanistan’. He urged intensifying interaction with Pakistan on
regional issues, especially Afghanistan, conceding that Russia had ‘gained
nothing from not engaging Pakistan on the problem of Afghanistan’. He
claimed that about 30,000 elements comprising Arabs, elements from the
Pakistani Army and Chechen militiamen were jointly fighting in Afghanistan
on the side of the Taliban. Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. (Retd.)
Moinuddin Haider briefed the envoy about the steps being taken by Pakistan
to fight terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and computerization
of related databases. To assuage the Russian fears, Pakistan’s Interior
Minister, Moinuddin Haider, agreed to conclude an extradition treaty with
Russia and to work in closer cooperation with Russia in the fight against
terrorism, arms, narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration, which is to be
signed during Russian Interior Minister’s proposed visit to Pakistan.
>2001
A major development in bilateral relations occurred in 2001, before the 9/11
attacks in the US when as a consequence of visit to Russia by the ISI Chief,
General Mehmood, as President Musharraf’s special envoy, an agreement
was concluded for the sale of sixteen MI-17 military cargo helicopters to
Pakistan. Since that visit, Pakistan and Russia have been engaged in
proactive diplomacy to improve bilateral relations and intense high level
interactions have continued to take place between two countries.
On May 26, 2001, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Pakistan,
Edward Shevchenko, held a meeting with the Federal Minister for
Privatization, Altaf M. Saleem, in Islamabad, in which both shared the
experiences, learned through privatization processes in Russia and
Pakistan. The Pakistani Minister expressed his hope for Russian investment
in the units in financial sector, gas companies, and industrial mega-projects
like Pakistan Steel Mill and the Pak-Saudi Fertilizer Company, which are to
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be privatized soon. The Russian ambassador stressed the need for exchange
of experts and asked for expanding the existing economic and trade
interaction, underscoring the fact that the Russian engineers were already
participating in the modernization of Pakistan Steel Mill.
>2002
After 9/11 Pakistan’s major policy shift in abandoning the Taliban and
becoming a front line state in fighting the international “war on terror” in
Afghanistan greatly helped in improving its relations with Russia. They
established a major working group in 2002 called the Consultative Group on
Strategic Stability and also signed an agreement to cooperate in handling
threats to regional stability. Aziz Ahmed Khan, Additional Secretary,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Moscow in January 2002 for
consultations on trade, economic and political matters.
In early 2002, a Russian business delegation visited Pakistan as a
consequence of which the Pakistan-Russia Business Forum and PakistanRussia Business Council were created targeting a turnover of one billion
dollars’ worth of trade and investments in the coming years.
>2003
A major development in bilateral relations was the visit of President Pervez
Musharraf to Russia in 2003. This land mark visit and President
Musharraf’s earlier meetings with Russian President, Vladimir Putin at
Almaty and Kuala Lumpur, greatly helped in building mutual trust and
confidence. Both countries also signed three agreements to enhance cultural
and diplomatic ties and to resolve visa and immigration. As a result of
improved relations Russia also supported Pakistan’s entry to the SCO as an
Observer.
>2004
Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, visited Pakistan in July 2004. Also, a
delegation of Russian Duma visited Pakistan the same year.32 Russia and
Pakistan also see prospects of collaboration in the fuel and energy sector.
Russian Gazprom is interested in the construction of Iran-Pakistan gas
pipeline.
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>2005
In 2005, both countries’ presidents met on the sidelines of UN General
Assembly session and heads of governments met in Moscow during the SCO
heads of government meeting.
>2006
The high level contacts continued in 2006. Apart from high level meetings of
officials, the two presidents also met on the sidelines of the SCO meeting in
June 2006 and both heads of government met on the sidelines of the next
SCO summit in September 2006.
In November 2006, the Russian Foreign Minister visited Pakistan and held
talks with his counterpart, Khurshid Kasuri on major global issues and
cooperation in many fields including energy, communications, railways and
information technology. During their press conference Khurshid Kasuri said,
“We consider Russia as an engine for increased economic growth and
a factor of peace and stability in the SCO.”
During this meeting Russia also showed its keen interest in participating in
construction of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
>2007_08
In 2007 Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Fradkov visited Pakistan (first visit
of a Russian Prime Minister in 38 years) and held in-depth discussions with
President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The emphasis
was on increasing economic cooperation.
In November 2007 Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister visited Moscow and
signed a MoU on joint exploration of oil.
>2009
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Kayani’s visit to Moscow in 2009
and subsequent meetings of former Prime Minister Gilani with the Russian
leaders on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Dushanbe in 2010 had paved the
way for presidential visits in the ensuing years.
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>2010
“Without any condition here we are your allies in the full sense of the word”
was how Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin conveyed his warm feelings
to his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani when the two met on
November 25, 2010 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) summit in Dushanbe.
Both reiterated their belief that there are vast opportunities for mutually
beneficial relations and complementarities that must be utilized optimally
for mutual advantage. Putin told Gilani that Russian companies were
interested in investing in various sectors in Pakistan, speaking in response
to Gilani’s desire “to seek comprehensive partnership with Russia” and his
proposal for a bilateral dialogue on matters relating to peace and stability in
Afghanistan.
The dramatist and playwright, Anwar Maqsood's work has been well
received in Russia and majority of his dramas have been translated and
opted in Russian dramas and writes. Russian writer, Anton Chekhov, is
widely celebrated in Pakistan. The Karachi University has a Karachi Russian
Culture Centre that is completely dedicated to the various Russian writers.
In 2010, the Punjab University laid the foundation of Russian cultural
center in Lahore as well. In 2010, Russian Culture Centre in Karachi in
collaboration with the National Academy of Performing Arts staged
Chekhov's play "The Proposal" at the occasion.
>2011
In 2011, Russia’s Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin publicly supported
Pakistan’s desire to attain full membership of SCO. He further stated that in
South Asia and the Muslim world Pakistan was a very important partner for
Russia. He offered help in the expansion of Karachi steel mill and in the
energy sector technical assistance for the Guddu and Muzaffargarh power
plants as well as the development of Thar Coal Project. Russia’s warming up
to Pakistan can be seen in the backdrop of India’s cozying up to the US
following the agreement on strategic partnership.
President Asif Ali Zardari visited Russia in September 2011, the first visit of
a Pakistani head of state in 37 years. It was basically aimed at assuring
Russian leaders that Pakistan was ready to forget the legacy of their bitter
past and wanted to forge a new relationship for the good of their people and
for the benefit of the region.
During this visit the two countries signed MoUs in energy, investment, air
services and agriculture. Russia also strongly condemned the NATO strike in
Pakistan and the Russian foreign minister stated it is unacceptable to
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violate the sovereignty of a state, even when planning and carrying out
counter-insurgent operations.
>2012
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister visited the Russian Federation in March 2012
and met the Russian Foreign Minister. As stated by Stephen Blank of
Strategic Studies Institute, “Pakistan and Russia has covertly developed
geopolitical and strategic relations behind the scenes of the world politics
since Russia has concluded that in the wake of withdrawal of NATO led ISAF
and US forces by 2014, Pakistan will be a crucial player in Afghanistan and
hence speeded up advancement of relations with this country.”
In this build-up of cordiality the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, was
scheduled to make a landmark visit to Pakistan in October 2012 but it was
suddenly postponed. It was said by the Russian authorities that the visit
had been temporarily put off due to technical hitches related to holding of
quadrilateral summit in Pakistan. This explanation suggested that the
cancellation was not a rebuff and mutual relations would move on.
However the media speculation was that the cancellation was probably due
to Pakistan’s reluctance to award the $1.2 billion contract of Iran-Pakistan
gas pipeline to Russia’s energy giant, Gazprom, without bidding as Russia
wanted.
However, three important mutual visits of Pakistani and Russian officials
which took place immediately after the cancellation of the Russian
President’s visit helped in allaying any misperceptions in this regard. First,
a Russian high-powered delegation visited Pakistan and signed three
important MoUs on expansion and modernization of Pakistan Steel Mills,
cooperation in Railways development and in the energy sector. Then,
Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, visited Russia
as per his schedule in the first week of October 2012 and held meetings
with Russian Army top brass and the ruling politicians on ways to develop
defense ties between the two countries. Also, to dispel any doubts being
aired in the Pakistani media about cancellation of Putin’s visit, the Russian
Foreign Minister, Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, visited Pakistan in the first
week of October 2012 and held meetings with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister
and also called on the Prime Minister. During his visit he made some
significant statements. In response to a question regarding the cancellation
of President Putin’s visit, Lavrov stated that the visit was cancelled due to
serious rescheduling problems.
The world's first bilingual Urdu-Russian dictionary was compiled and
launched by Pakistan-based Russian scholar Dr. Tashmirza Khalmirzaev in
2012 at a ceremony in Islamabad. Khalmirzaev said the dictionary aimed to
"help speakers of both languages come closer." He also added that a new era
was dawning in Pakistan’s relationship with Russia and other Central Asian
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states and encouraged the government of Pakistan to continue work in
promoting the Urdu language in Russia and Central Asia.
>2013
On 5 August 2013, Colonel General Vladimir V Chirkin visited Pakistan
where he was received by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The two generals
discussed matters of mutual interest with emphasis on improving defense
cooperation, army-to-army relations the security situation in the region.
In a press conference, the ambassador of Russia has agreed to sell
helicopters to Pakistan to assist the country with terrorism and security
related issues. Russia was still holding talks with Pakistan on the supply of
the combat helicopters, and had lifted its embargo on the arms supply to
Pakistan. “Such a decision has been taken. We are holding talks on
supplying the helicopters,” head of state-owned Rostec Sergei Chemezov
said, adding that the negotiations were about Russian Mi-35 Hind attack
helicopters. Russia has long been the largest supplier of arms to India,
which is the world’s top arms buyer.
Pakistan and Russia wrapped up their first strategic dialogue on 31-August2013. At the talks held at the foreign secretaries’ level in Moscow, the
Pakistani side was led by Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani and Russia’s
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Gennadievich Titov led his
side. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov also participated in the
consultations. The dialogue, the Foreign Office says, lays an institutional
framework for building closer relations between the two countries through
discussions for cooperation in political, economic, defense and other sectors.
The two sides exchanged views on regional and international developments.
Broadly, Pakistan and Russia agreed for more high-level contacts, closely
coordinating positions on regional and international issues, and expanding
trade and investment relations and cooperation in the field of energy and
power generation.
>2014
As the NATO-led ISAF and the US Forces, Afghanistan Command, is
planning to depart Afghanistan in 2014, the Russian Federation came to a
conclusion that Pakistan is a crucial player in Afghanistan and that, as
NATO withdraws, it becomes all the more urgent for Moscow to seek some
sort of modus vivendi with Islamabad.
Pakistan and Russia are in talks about the delivery of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter
jets and previously agreed upon delivery of Mi-35M helicopters, Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister (FM) Sergei Ryabkov said, Sputnik reported.
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Earlier this year, a draft contract for the delivery of four Mi-35M ‘Hind E’
combat helicopters was sent to Pakistan from Russia, a source in the
Russian military and technical cooperation was quoted by the Russian news
agency TASS.
Increasing military cooperation between Islamabad and Moscow would not
negatively impact Russia’s ties with India, Ryabkov said, adding that PakRussia ties were improving in other sectors as well ─ including energy.
>2015
Moscow’s previous concerns over militants have been reduced, and Pakistan
now looks like a key player in keeping regional peace. At the same time India
has been drawn closer to the U.S., meaning that Russia has more incentive
to explore new trade partnerships, especially in the light of Western
sanctions imposed over Ukraine.
Russia’s traditional ally India has been upset by recent arms deals with
Pakistan, including Mi-35 combat helicopters. Talks are also underway
about the sale of the Sukhoi S-35 fighter jet, and sales to Pakistan could
mark the end of Russia’s historic alliance with India.
Economic ties may also be strengthened, with talks about a $2-2.5 billion
pipeline deal in their final stages. The pipeline would run from Karachi to
Lahore.
Rumors have been swirling for some time that Moscow may invest in the
national steel producer Pakistan Steel Mills. As it stands Islamabad plans to
privatize the company by 2016, and Russian companies may invest.
Bilateral trade could also increase if a free trade agreement with the
Eurasian Economic Union can be reached, a possibility that Pakistan has
expressed an interest in. Additionally a Pakistani delegation recently went to
Moscow in an attempt to press for lower non-tariff trade barriers for
Pakistani goods.
Pakistan Army actively participated in Russian Army War Games 2015 held
in Russian Far east. Pakistan was also among the 6 countries that took part
in Master of The Air Defense Battle Competition besides Russia, China,
Egypt, Venezuela and Belarus.
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8
Conclusion
Disillusionment has a large part of the common history between Pakistan
and Russia. The relationship has traditionally been difficult and the prey of
evolving international dynamics, as well as the relationship between Russia
and the US. However, in order to move forward the past needs to be left
behind and unnecessary myths surrounding the relationship need to be
debunked, in order to develop a careful, long-term and proactive foreign
policy and relationship. National interest-based convergences need to be
highlighted, and a better understanding of the nature of Pakistan-Russian
relations can facilitate that. Russian interests in the region are evolving and
this must be remembered in the development of Pakistan’s relationship with
Russia, in order to avoid unrealistic expectations and the disappointment
which is then likely to follow.
However, in this globalized world, no state can live in diplomatic and
economic isolation. Therefore, this new-found love for Russian should not
again be compromised with rationality and national interests. Pakistan
cannot ignore the Western states and the US, which are the largest trading
partners, and contribute positively in the socio-economic development of the
country. Pakistan in its ‘re-visit’ and ‘re-formed’ foreign policy should have
an evenhanded approach to all great powers, near and distant, to fulfill their
national security objectives.
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