Pakistan has its own drugs problem that is poorly addressed, but it is able to make a contribution to the international battle against trafficking, and having a good working relationship with the Russians, as well as the Chinese, the Americans, the British and even the Indians, all at a naval level, serves all those nations well. International naval cooperation between countries, which in other ways are adversarial, has virtually eliminated the scourge of Somali piracy, and although the trafficking of drugs is never going to be totally wiped out, it is possible to interdict the traffic. At a practical level, that means that navies need to cooperate if they are to curb illicit activities in the maritime domain. Narcotics are not the only concern — international terrorism travels by sea too, and the recent exercise was an opportunity for the special forces of Russia and Pakistan to test procedures and protocols. Russia and Pakistan may seem far apart, but it is good geopolitical housekeeping for Pakistan to service bilateral relations with the Russians — and not just via naval exercises. Given that we do not enjoy the best of relations with most of our neighbours or even with the US, engagement with the Russians is most welcome.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2014.
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