On the side-lines of 24th SCO Summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had a very fruitful and optimistic meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During this meeting on July 3, 2024 at Astana, Kazakhstan both leaders agreed for further promotion of bilateral cooperation in all fields; political, economic and military. Both leaders agreed to make best use of SCO forum for furthering their strategic and political relationship. On the economic front, it was agreed to promote and enhance bilateral trade and commerce between Pakistan and Russia. Barter trade was discussed as an important opportunity in the bilateral trade and commerce between both states. Owing to regional proximity through Central Asian Region, Pakistan and Russia can promote barter trade which can be later expanded to other states of the region. Diplomatically, Pakistan and Russia had excellent relationship ever since 1990s.
Indeed, there is wish and will, both at Islamabad and Moscow for betterment of bilateral relationship between two countries. It’s time that, this bilateral relationship should be promoted to new heights in all fields. Unfortunately, security situation in Afghanistan is a common concern of both Pakistan and Russia. The Taliban Government of Afghanistan needs to cooperate with regional states especially with Pakistan for controlling the terrorist groups, operating from Afghan soil. For a regional peace in SCO region, there is a need that, Russia, China, Pakistan and Central Asian states should work together. As compared to Western perceptions, President Putin has a different opinion about terrorism and trends of Islamophobia. President Putin rejects the western propaganda against Islam and Muslims. In December 2021, President Vladimir Putin publically said that, “insulting (PBUH) does not count as an expression of artistic freedom but is a violation of religious freedom”. Besides, he remained a critic of the publication of blasphemous sketches of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in Charlie Hebdo magazine of French. In fact, Pakistan and Muslim world has positive and optimistic image of Russian Federation on issues of Islamophobia and terrorism.
With the beginning of 21st century, there has been newwarmth in the bilateral relationship of both countries. President General Pervez Musharraf made a landmark visit of Russia in February 2003. This visit was in fact a new beginning in the bilateral relationship of two countries. Thereafter, there have been repeated visits by civil and military officials from both sides. Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Russia in February 2022. Tracing the history, the bilateral diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and former Soviet Union were established on May 1, 1948. Since the Russian Federation is the successor state of former Soviet Union, thus, there remained continuation of same diplomatic relations, after the disintegration of later in 1991.It is worth mentioning that in 1958, USSR indicated its interest to provide economic and technical assistance to Pakistan in the fields of agriculture and for the control of floods in Pakistan. Pakistan welcomed the offer and in the subsequent years, President Muhammad Ayub Khan visited the Moscow in April 1965, the first ever visit of a Pakistani head of state. This landmark visit helped in removing misunderstandings and by paving way for promotion of agreements on trade, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges. After the 1965, Indo-Pak War, Moscow, mediated the famous Tashkent Declaration in January-1966. In the early years of 1970s, Pakistan made a major revision in its Foreign policy and Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto visited Moscow twice; March 1972 and October 1974. These visits paved the way for improving bilateral relations between Pakistan and former Soviet Union. With the desire to promote cordial bilateral relationship, Soviet Union, installed a steel mill in Karachi, indeed, a huge project for boosting the Pakistani economy. Unfortunately, the later years, and particularly the decade of 1980s, created lot of misunderstandings between Moscow and Islamabad. Indeed, if viewed from a realist’s perspective, most of misperceptions between Pakistan and Russia can be attributed to a strong U.S influence over Pakistan, for the ultimate promotion of its own (US) strategic objectives. However, the bad patch of the cold war, where Pakistan remained part of US led western alliance is over. Indeed, US used Pakistan in order to attain its own strategic objectives of containment of Communism during the cold war and later in becoming the super power after disintegration of USSR in early 1990s.
In the contemporary environment, Russia and Pakistan have the unanimity of views for bring regional peace, and stability in Afghanistan. Under the changing regional and global scenario, a close cooperation on strategic and security issues between Russia and Pakistan is the need of hour.
According to Daniel Markey, a senior Professor of John’s Hopkins University, Russia and Pakistan probably have more commonalities then Pakistan had with United States.
The most significant aspect of Pakistan-Russia relationship is the prospects of Pakistan becoming the future energy corridor from Central Asia and Russia to South Asia and even China. Indeed, Moscow and Islamabad have many common interests and objectives like: regional security and stability and countering threats of terrorism. Besides, controlling illicit arms trade, drug trafficking, money laundering, cross-border organized crimes. Regional connectivity is yet another aspect which should be discussed and promoted at diplomatic and political level between Russia and Pakistan. “There is a solid foundation for constructing a multi-storey building of Russia-Pakistan relations.” What all they need is to exploit the opportunities for the common good of both countries with sincerity. — The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
