Pakistan stands to gain by improving its relations with Russia in terms of having alternative options
ISLAMABAD: Keeping in view its geostrategic position and politico-economic conditions in the present times, Pakistan needs to enhance its bilateral relations with other countries. In the last 55 years, Pakistan and China have developed exemplary cordial and cooperative relations in the political and defence fields. In the last few years, the two countries have been able to chart out a progressive path for the direction of their bilateral economic relations. Bilateral trade is surging, investment is increasing, and the number of development projects and joint ventures is also on the rise. In the past, China had made valuable contributions to Pakistan’s economic development, particularly the development of infrastructure and in the establishment of basic industries.
Moving on to other important countries, let’s take a look at Pakistan’s ties with Russia. The latter seems to have placed a new diplomatic and strategic focus on South Asia, and thus on Pakistan in recent years. Pakistan-Russia relations are undergoing a process of normalisation, which is most welcome, though the pace of positive change is somewhat slow. Pakistan seems to be very enthusiastic about improving relations with Russia, not least because of the changing geostrategic landscape of the region that provides the rationale for Russia to improve its relations with the region’s large and medium-sized powers.
For Russia, the benefits of improving bilateral relations with Pakistan are well defined, especially in the context of a regional framework for cooperation on combating terrorism, as well as Pakistan’s interest in buying Russian weapon systems and expanding economic ties. Pakistan stands to gain by improving its relations with Russia in terms of having alternative options such as, for its security needs, technology transfers, access to the Russian market for its exports, and strengthening relations with Central Asian states.
Amna Malik
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2014.
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