Pakistan – Russia ‘New Era of Improving Relations’

Published on February 5, 2015 by admin    ·(TOTAL VIEWS 2,052)      No Comments

Pakistan – Russia

‘New Era of Improving Relations’

Since after the independence of Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1947 Pakistan is enjoying cordial relations with its neighbors except India. Russian Federation and Pakistan had first established their diplomatic and bilateral relations on May 1, 1948 and the Soviet leadership had sent a congratulatory message to the then Pakistani Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan and invited him to visit Moscow but the Pakistani Premier preferred to visit the US instead in May 1950. But to understand the hidden reason of P.M decisions was an imperative reason as why Joseph Stalin then soviet communist leader had not ever sent any invitation to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1947, when the country was actually born. However Premier Liaquat Ali Khan’s visit to the United States infuriated the Soviets and Pak-Soviet relations become quite tense in the era of 1954-58.

Soviet ties with Pakistan are chronic spreads over ninety years. In the era of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1922, furious Soviets had the lust to expand their country to reach to hot waters of Arabian oceans through a territory of Pakistan now Khyber Pakhtunkwa or Baluchistan to penetrate the communist revolution against the British Empire which was already concerned of intelligence reports and prophecies that Communism might spread in India. This incidentally was the period when the British Empire was retracting back to British islands and the America was gaining momentum in the global politics as Cold War between Moscow and Washington DC was taking birth.

In Russia her political anxiety was natural because in 1958, President Ayub Khan had again opted to visit US and made a very successful tour. Pakistan became member of South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1954 and later it joined the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) in 1955. These were the couple of moves by newly born country like Pakistan which made Soviet Union dejected and she did not welcome at all hence the Soviets reacted by supporting India on the disputed Kashmir issue. General Ayub khan was keen to normalize relations with the Soviets. But what happens was unfortunate incident took place in 1959 when US reconnaissance bird U2 a spy plane was shot down by Soviets in their territory. Investigations revealed that it had actually flown from a Pakistani Air Base. Moscow was infuriated over the Pakistani leadership and hence the relation between the two countries remained sour.

Based on the longstanding political hostility Russia has shown its naked hostility, during the 1965 war between Pakistan and India by supplying of huge quantity of ammunitions to New Delhi. This was serious business to take revenge from the Pakistani leadership and ultimately from Pakistan. Not only this but Moscow has also extended lots of support to a few ‘rebellious’ political and ethnic parties in east Pakistan like Awami league & Awami National Party (ANP). During 1971 Pak-India war, Soviets supported the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini in East Pakistan and after disintegration of Pakistan, Moscow recognized the formation of Bangladesh. And also the Soviet Navy remained high alert, ready to extend any military support to the Indians and the Mukti Bahini against Pakistan during the war.

Creation of Bangladesh was the result of joint conspiracy of ‘gang of three’ with Russian support. This disintegration of Pakistan has given chance to Z.A Bhutto in fulfilling his lust of becoming ‘civilian marshal law administrator’ in the history of Pakistan and become civilian dictator. ZA Bhutto was holding ample soft feeling for Russians for their support in ‘tearing off’ Pakistan. So in the early 1970s his endeavors to improve ties with Soviet Union have brought Russians in Karachi to build steel mill in 1972 which become a hallmark of Pak-Soviet improving relationship. Bhutto as Prime Minister had a paid an official visit to the USSR. However, the fairly warm Pak-Soviet ties under Bhutto were short-lived as in July 1977 Z.A Bhutto was ousted and hanged by General Zia (Shaheed). Couple of years later, the eventful Soviet intervention into Afghanistan changed the entire world to quite an extent. The Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan once again had left a negative impact and a serious blow to Pak-Soviet relations. Pakistan felt a direct threat to its security from the presence of Soviet forces in Afghanistan while USSR demanded accommodation in Pakistan’s policy on Afghanistan and predicated the entire bilateral relationship on its response.

The collapse of Soviet Union provided an opportunity for a new beginning in Pak-Russia relations, which was taken up by both sides. High-level bilateral contacts took place between Pakistan and the Russian Federation immediately thereafter. In November 1991. Pakistan’s minister of state for economic affairs visited Moscow followed by his well-Known tour of the Central Asian States. It was the first ministerial visit from Pakistan to the Russian Federation after years of neglect by the past governments which has contributed significantly to the opening a new chapter of relations with Russia.

The drama of 9/11 has brought major changes in the world politics and resulted Moscow and Islamabad to come closer to each other because of the U-Turn taken by the regime of General Mushraf in Afghan policy and denouncing of Taliban. At this point America, Russia and Pakistan were all on the same page of so-called ‘war-on-terror’.

Pakistan’s relations with the Russian Federation, which emerged as the successor state to the USSR after its dissolution of USSR, are quite naturally inseparable from the legacy of more than four decades of Pak-Soviet relations. It is imperative to note that Pakistan was the first to recognize Russia as the successor state of the former Soviet Union (USSR) and its formal bilateral ties with the Russian federation had commenced in 1991.

Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Fradkov, was seen visiting Pakistan in 2007. He was the first Russian Prime Minister to land on the Islamabad airport in 38 years. Pakistan and Russia were now talking in a cordial atmosphere. And since then, as newspaper archives reveal, Pakistan and Russia have never looked back, cementing their relationship with every passing day.

There are several other indication to show that Pakistan’s desire for a normal relation-ship with Russia, which is also reciprocated by Russian Federation. Pakistan had been appreciative of Russian balanced approach towards South Asia and attached independence significance “to its relations with Pakistan.” While Russian tried to maintain its traditionally close cooperation with India, it may not have a special relationship with that country at the expense to its ties with Pakistan. The Indians were not pleased with the development but the fact was that India has lost it strategic value. After the end of the cold war and the normalization of china-Russia relations, India no longer enjoyed the importance. Russian has realized the impotence of Pakistan and has shown its concerns on Kashmir issue which has further developed the ties between both countries. Russia has also favored Pakistan on non-proliferation issue, the sale of defense equipment from Russia to Pakistan and had moved away from its unconditional support to India on these issues.

This new development received the considerable concern in India. The Indians were also disappointed when the Russian leader made no statement on the Kashmir issue during Indian Prime Minister Visit to Moscow in July 1994. The Russian Federation did not oppose Pakistan’s resolution in the UN General Assembly on the nuclear-free zone in South Asia for the first time in 17 years in 1991 and voted in favor of the proposal of Pakistan for first time in history Pakistan and Russia also pleaded for promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Russia demanded for the containment of turmoil to Central Asian States. Pakistan also sought tranquility and peace and to develop mutually beneficial co-operation with Afghanistan and Central Asian States. Pakistan and Russia co-operated in the UN-sponsored talks on Tajikistan. Russia had been using its influence over the Tajik government while Pakistan doing the same. These rounds of talks held in Tehran and Islamabad in 1994. The Russian president extended the invitation to Pakistan’s Premier to visit Russia, which showed a balanced approach for the established of good relation with Pakistan.

For normalizing of relations both countries have been reciprocating numerous trips at minister level. Its start of new era of co-operation when scholars had played an important role in normalization of relations between the both countries. Leader of the Russian Parliament visited Pakistan in September 1998 and disclosed that Russia was ready to supply military hardware to Pakistan. He also said the Russian technology could find its way into many fields of Pakistan markets. Recently Pakistan purchased transport helicopters from Russia. Another big deal involving “Kamaz” trucks in the being negotiated while a joint venture for producing small cars is in the offing. Although, trade between Pakistan and Russia has declined in recent years owing to the economic crises in both the countries, serious efforts are being made to revive the bilateral trade as well.

At the same time Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Russia, which it feels has an important role to play in peace and stability in Asia and particularly in South Asia. It is desirous of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia in all spheres, which can contribute to the peace and stability of region. Russia shares this desire and also recognizes the importance of Pakistan in peace and stability of south Asia and South Central Asia. Based on their keenness for close and cooperative relations, the two countries are moving towards a more fruitful relationship. Pakistan welcomes the fact that Russia is in the process of evolving a more even handed approach towards the major countries in South Asia and believes that Russia could act as a mediator for the establishment atmosphere in South Asia conducive to the economic development of the region.

Realizing the importance of Pakistan in the region. Russia intended to improve relations with Pakistan by offering help to ailing economic condition, sales its armaments. The danger of National Missile Defense program and mysterious ‘friendly’ relations of United States has boosted China, Pakistan and Russia to come closer in improving their sour relations in order to play wisely in regional politics. The fact is that Islamic democratic Pakistan began to enjoy a pivotal position in the region.

Written by: Dr.Raja M.Javaid Janjua
(Bureau Chief UNP, Islamabad)