Events on diplomatic horizon over these recent weeks indicate that while simmering on back burner due to mistrust over Ukraine war, relations between Pakistan and Russia are again witnessing an upward trajectory.

“We welcome Pakistan’s wish to join BRICS. (But) As for now, the participation of Pakistan in New Development Bank’s (NDB) activities is being received as an encouraging development,” Russian Ambassador in Islamabad, Albert P. Khorev said in an exclusive interview with the leading Russian state-run news agency, RIA Novosti, late last month.

Read more: https://pakistan.mid.ru/en/news/ambassador_albert_p_khorev_s_interview_with_ria_novosti/

That Russia airlifted a planeload of relief goods for their needy Pakistani brothers two weeks back would have not attracted too much attention had it been a goodwill gesture in isolation.

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Warmness and enthusiasm have rather emanated from both sides in diverse areas of mutual interests. 

BRICS

Welcoming Pakistan’s intention to join the New Development Bank (NDB) affiliated with BRICS, Ambassador Khorev lauded Pakistan’s participation in NDB activities describing it an encouraging development.

In February this year, Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee approved the purchase of 5882 NDB shares worth $582 million, which the international media described as a move ‘to diversify its (Pakistan’s) credit options and reduce reliance on traditional lenders, like the World Bank and IMF.’

During his visit to Islamabad in September last year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk had assured the Pakistani leadership of Russia’s full backing for Pakistan to join BRICS. Subsequently, Russia tried its best to get Pakistan’s accession to the regional group verified by the 16^th annual BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 22-24, which, besides the founding members i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, was also attended by Egypt, Iran, UAE, and Ethiopia as new entrants. Pakistan’s accession, however, hit a technical snags as its endorsement by other members was mandatory.

By joining NDB, Pakistan has certainly got a step closer to becoming full member of the groups and Russia’s overt assurance promises to help the former joint the club.

Ukraine War

Mutual trust between Moscow and Islamabad had received shocks last year when reports appeared in international media that Pakistan had supplied weapons to Ukraine in its war against Russia. However, Pakistan instantly brushed aside such speculations. Later, while addressing a news conference inside Russian embassy in Islamabad, Ambassador Khorev ‘appreciated’ Pakistan’s neutrality in Ukraine War. Answering a question at his last week’s press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan also said:

“Pakistan has enjoyed friendly relations with both Russia and Ukraine. We have always advocated dialogue and diplomacy, immediate cessation of hostilities and peaceful resolution of this conflict.”

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“Our relationship with Pakistan has proved its vitality and strength by overcoming the test of time despite drastic changes taking place at the international level. Despite the pressure exerted by the Western powers, Islamabad is persisting with its commitment to strengthen its relations with Russia,” Khorev later told media.

These new Russian overtures do not only reflect on Moscow’s intentions to expand its interaction with countries in the vast regions of South Caucasus, Central Asia and beyond, but they also hold a promise for diversification of Pakistan’s foreign trade, economic, and security engagements.

Eurasian Security Concept

“Under President Putin’s Eurasian Security Concept, Russia is ready to further strengthen its political and economic cooperation with Pakistan and other Eurasian countries,” Khorev has been quoted by the Russian news agency. Regional connectivity in the Eurasian supercontinent has always remained Russia’s priority and the same was the objective when Khorev said:

“Our strategic objectives include the establishment of such an effective transportation system, which connects countries in the region under the framework of “Greater Eurasian Partnership.”

An important area of cooperation, which the Russian diplomat highlighted during the week, was security collaboration; saying that Moscow was working closely with regional partners to combat the menace of terrorism.

In interaction with Pakistani media, Ambassador Khorev particularly mentioned Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) as a threat to the Russian security. Russia views the Moscow Format on Afghanistan as ‘a unique platform’ that ‘brings together all regional players without exception.’

Trade

Besides security, trade and energy cooperation are two major areas wherein Moscow wishes to expand its cooperation with Pakistan.

 “Russia has come up with a constructive agenda of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, whose priorities includes implementation of joint infrastructure, energy, and other projects of mutual benefit,” Khorev asserted.

Moscow has expressed its desire to take its bilateral trade with Pakistan to over $one billion, hoping that Pakistan will soon lift its ban on import of Russian wheat and take steps toward energy cooperation between the two countries.

Much can be expected in this connection in May this year when both countries hold the 10^th meeting of Russia-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation in Islamabad. End