Pakistan

Putin declines invitation to visit Pakistan, claims report

Providing a reason for turning down the invitation, Moscow explains there is not enough ‘substance’ in this trip

News Desk April 30, 2016

Providing a reason for turning down the invitation, Moscow explains there is not enough ‘substance’ in this trip. PHOTO: AFP

Russian President Vladmir Putin has turned down Islamabad’s invitation to visit Pakistan and inaugurate a key pipeline project, a report carried by Indian news agency ANI said on Friday.

Providing a reason for turning down the invitation, Moscow explained that there was not enough ‘substance’ in this trip, ANI news agency reported.

Pakistan invites Putin for pipeline's inauguration

The high-level visit was supposed to have seen the Russian president inaugurate the $2 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) North-South Pipeline Project from Karachi to Lahore which would have had the potential of opening a new era of strategic and political alliance between the two countries.

Last year, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had invited Putin during his meeting with a Russian delegation led by Victor P Ivanov – co-chairman of the Russia-Pakistan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) on Economic, Trade and Scientific Cooperation – at the PM’s House in Islamabad.

Putin expected to visit Islamabad soon to seal $2b LNG deal

“Putin might visit Pakistan before June,” said Mobin Saulat, CEO and managing director of Inter State Gas Systems (ISGS), the Pakistani company handling the project. “We are 200 million people. And we provide a gateway to other South Asian countries.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (54)

Buzzkill | 7 years ago | Reply “And we provide a gateway to other South Asian countries.” – Mobin Saulat, CEO and managing director of Inter State Gas Systems (ISGS). The only south asian country, the world is interested in is India. If you keep your gates closed for India, nobody is interested in you.

Buzzkill | 7 years ago | Reply looks like he got a call from Modi

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Adil | 7 years ago | Reply Solution is to invite Chinese Premier every 3 months.

Adil | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan should take heart. Putin also declined an invitation to visit Somalia.

Sandip | 7 years ago | Reply “We are 200 million people. And we provide a gateway to other South Asian countries.” - Mobin Saulat, CEO and managing director of Inter State Gas Systems (ISGS). And the gateway is in such poor state that it has to go begging halfway around the world for $470 million, just to be able to afford a few planes. Pathetic.

Me | 7 years ago | Reply USA has already sanctioned the Russia company South - north Gas pipeline so there is no substance left in the deal

Pakistani Man | 7 years ago | Reply The country is creeping toward isolation due its dubious policy towards its near and far neighbors.

Rahul | 7 years ago | Reply @brar: Also they cannot get rid of polio.

Sarvesh | 7 years ago | Reply This is strange that Pakistanis are criticizing their civilian government, but what about general Raheel Sharif? Didn't he visit Russia? He too actively pursues an independent foreign policy. How come he couldn't convince Russian diplomats to convince President Putin to visit Pakistan?

Rahul | 7 years ago | Reply Putin must have heard how you guys treated Kabir Khan.

brar | 7 years ago | Reply @Asad: I am always astonished to read comments from Pakistanis such as no toilets, largest population under poverty line bla bla bla, my dear friends we will welcome your suggestion the day you achieved cent percent sanitation and clean drinking water,not even a single Pakistani below poverty line,we have these problems and we never denie it.

Rahul | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan was the tool that US and Saudi Arabia used to break up the Soviet empire. Why should Pakistan assume Russia will forgive and forget just because the US and Saudi Arabia now tilt towards India? The biggest threat Russia faces today is the religious fanaticism in Chechnya and other Muslim parts of Russia. Russia is still vary of the damage Pakistan can do.

Zahid | 7 years ago | Reply Putin should visit Pakistan it will be good gesture Timing suits his visit to Pakistan it's good opportunity for Russian

Bharat | 7 years ago | Reply No worry... Pakistan should call its all weather friend again....

Last Word | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan should seriously do retrospection of its foreign policy which has outlived its utility and hurting it much more than its neighbours. USA is very unhappy with Pakistan due to its dual policy on terrorism and so are India and Afghanistan on the same issue. Half of the world is fighting terrorism and it will not tolerate any country who is promoting the same with impunity with total disregard to world opinion. Russia too cannot ignore the concerns of India and others and things may get more difficult for Pakistan in future if it continues the disastrous foreign policy.

Hameed Shaheen | 7 years ago | Reply The reported refusal of President Putin to visit Pakistan seems quite strange; Maybe it is under Indian influencing pressure, but certainly it is against regional interests; it curtils the diplomatic persuasive presence of China in this region; Russia has recaptured its Middle East bastion - Syria; it may be making two bridges simultaneously: Russia-Israel-India and Russia-Iran-Syria; I think it may be eyeing to pocket Saudi Arab influence as USA had drawn itself somewhat away from Riyadh. This is just skeletal analysis, not truth; others may reject or expand it.

Ch. K. A. Nye | 7 years ago | Reply @Miscalculation: There is no FM. That portfolio is with the PM's office. Agree that the ageing Aziz should be retired and more capable advisors at least to be appointed.

ajeet | 7 years ago | Reply @Asad: Pakistan has bigger problems to worry about than toilet

Ch. K. A. Nye | 7 years ago | Reply Now here's a man who knows not to waste time and money on useless jaunts abroad. Unlike our PM....

Another Indian | 7 years ago | Reply @Asad.. That pathetic, eh?

Komal S | 7 years ago | Reply Funny thing is Pakistanis assume that to offset USA, they want to build better relations with Russia and for some reason believe Russia is going to jump on that offer.

True blue Indian | 7 years ago | Reply @XoF: Glad you like Bollywood so much. Keep watching it brother.

Asad | 7 years ago | Reply To all Indians expressing their frustration should concentrate on India. We know what we have to do.Thank you so much. P.S: If everyone commenting here raise his/her voice in India for public toilets, you might be able to bring some change.

SK | 7 years ago | Reply Except China no other country is interested in Pakistan, a migraine to the world. China too using Pakistan as dump yard for goods, as cheapest access route to Central Asia & Europe and more importantly as their puppet against India. The frequency of supreme leader of China visiting Pakistan is also very low.

Pankaj Sinha | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan is a gateway to nowhere. Stop talking up the strategic importance of Pakistan. It is a figment of the imagination.

Shakti | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan must stop this childish game. That was done and dusted since the end of the Cold War. Today, the nation that has economic clout is the one that is respected. In that regard, Pakistan and Afghanistan are in the same boat. Russia will never jeopardize its relations with India to get closer to Pakistan only because of its economic interests.

Hawk | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan cant form a good relationship current geopolitical situation in middle east and also in future its seems bleak. 1. The relationship b/w Russian and turkey is at worst, Even a future direct military confrontation cant be denied. Pakistan, for all its philosophy, cant be allowed to be neutral in this situation and it is obvious which side she will choose. So Russian are not blind. 2. Pakistanis think since India and US are developing relation and It will negatively Impact Russia - India relations. I have to accept they are true till dis point. But because of this Russian will engage with Pakistan against India. This is dream that will never come to reality. Russians need India for there dwindling economy. Even if India purchases more than 70% from US, there will be more market for Russia than Pakistan can buy offer. Pakistan can only dream good Russia-Pak relations against India.

Sunil | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan is neither a great power, nor an economic/political player internationally. You are a transit country, you are caught in the middle. Once China gets it's way, then the Russians will want their way. Who next? What do you really have to offer the world? Do you produce anything significant?

Komal S | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan is the gateway to South Asia. I think world leaders understand the geography. Instead you should tell them we are building better relations with other South Asian countries.

Rex Minor | 7 years ago | Reply Only a naive Head of State would plan a visit now to a country whose Prime Minister has an offshore post box account? The country should prepare itself for isolation for the coming period. Rex Minor

Richard Verma | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan should acknowledge now that no superpower will like to have 'friendly Pakistan' at the cost of India. And its not India who created this 'India OR Pakistan' equation, it was Pakistan's foreign policy. Not because any superpower can't but because they know that no one understand Pakistan Psyche better than India by now. India have shown repeatedly that Pakistan cannot hinder Indians whatsoever. Its in Pakistani citizens's interest to works towards bettering relations with India. India does not need Pakistan, Period. Pakistan needs India. This fact should be visible in actions of Pakistani establishment as well as Pakistanis. Pakistani establishment, weakness of Pakistani intellectuals is responsible for pessimistic view of whole world towards Pakistan. Whatever the future holds, its high time now, Pakistani elite must choose rationally between their ' Mughal-Ego' and future of 200 million people and their goodwill. Good luck with that.

Vectra | 7 years ago | Reply @GHAZAL: "SO no SU -35 OR S-400?" As per Russian media Iran and some other nations has also shown interest in S-400 but according to Russian officials it may not be possible to sell this system to every one and the 1st priority is given to Russian Armed Forces.However according to them negotiation with India and China are moving ahead and these are the two nation who are likely to be the 1st recipient.China negotiation has already completed and Indian negotiation will soon be complete and may be signed either this months itself or early next month. If we look at Russian decision to not supply this system to everyone else and only confining the availability of this system to RIC i.e Russia,China and India this shows more of geopolitical decision and the strengthening of BRICS especially the trio among them i.e RIC

Vectra | 7 years ago | Reply @Nav: That's why it is called "Real strategic Partnership" gain for both Russia gets cash and India gets highly advanced weapon systems. @GHAZAL Even Iran and some other nations has also shown interest in S-400 but according to Russian officials it may not be possible to sell this system to every one and the 1st priority is given to Russian Armed Forces.However according to them negotiation with India and China are moving ahead and these are the two nation who are likely to be the 1st recipient.China negotiation has already completed and Indian negotiation will soon be complete and may be signed either this months itself or early next month.

Vectra | 7 years ago | Reply “We are 200 million people. And we provide a gateway to other South Asian countries.” This statement is confusing and needs little clarity as to how exactly how pakistan can provide a gateway to other South Asian countries?? As geography shows and confirms it was actually India which being in the center and sharing its border with all other neighbors around it is the only provider of gateway to all South Asian nations.

HBK | 7 years ago | Reply Awww, why big world leaders don't visit to the countries like of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Sudan etc

Desi dimag | 7 years ago | Reply @kb.....it's not a sole matter of Putin, except chinese no big world power visits Pakistan..... while all big world leaders, top big companies ceos, top artists and personalities visit India again and again

Sumit | 7 years ago | Reply @SKS....even with unconfirmed news, Pakistanis start making their regional block with world powers, but in reality except China, no superpowers visit Pakistan

Miscalculation | 7 years ago | Reply This is an embarrassment for Pakistan. We need a capable foreign minister for an imaginative foreign policy. Aziz is aging and his expertise is really in the realm of economics as shown by good performance during 1992. Nisar has a Master's degree in International Relations, plus he is quite savvy and well spoken. Why can't we hunt out someone from the retired foreign secretaries and if they cannot serve as a minister, surely, then they can do the job as an adviser? There does seem to be a dearth of suitable candidates, which is a sorry state of affairs. To prepare the youth for such positions in the future, why not start a program of providing fellowships to capable students of IR, economics, etc., say for six months or an year at the foreign office and build a reservoir of potentially capable foreign policy experts? (This is also done for American students by the US Department of State, for example.)

Anon | 7 years ago | Reply @haji atiya.....it's not related to Panama papers, just look at the past 18 months, heads of all big world powers USA, Russia, China France, Japan, Germany, Britain, AUS have visited India, but except China, no body bothered to visit Pak ....so you know the reason very well

Reader | 7 years ago | Reply Putin is right, there is no substance. All hot air and nothing more. Still at least Pakistan tried.

XoF | 7 years ago | Reply @SKS Well for the dreaming part!! Bollywood does it the best. Rest are your insecurities of your own imagination.

vinsin | 7 years ago | Reply @Ajeet: North Korea was created and supported by Nehru for China security just like Pakistan. It was India foreign policy.

Sajid Mehmood | 7 years ago | Reply When you'll make your investment in offshore to escape from taxes then how can our economy boost up? and how can we expect to foreigners to invest in Pakistan.? Where your entire lobby is corrupt.

SKS | 7 years ago | Reply Funny, Russia sells 4 helicopters and immediately people form Pakistan-Russia-China block to 'conquer' the world. Some wonderland they live in. Except the Chinese no one visits but still doesnt stop them from day dreaming.

Ajeet | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan is China's North Korea on its western border.

Nav | 7 years ago | Reply Strange!! Indian Diplomats have another problem. Putin has signed an agreement with India to Visit India every 2 years... Indian Diplomats are in a fix as they have to make each such visit significant with some kind of co-operation agreement, arms purchase, etc... Indian PM has to visit Russia in the intermittent year when Putin is not visiting India.. For example, Modi Visits Russia in 2015, 2017, 2019.... etc... Putin Visited India in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018... etc....

blabla | 7 years ago | Reply United nation already sanction the Russia company so there wouldn't be any LNG North south Gas pipeline project . Surely there is no point in putin visiting Pak for photoshow

Haji Atiya | 7 years ago | Reply Since the disclosure of Panama Leaks just about everything has been going South for Pakistan !

Tareolis | 7 years ago | Reply Plenty of matters of much greater substance had happened between Pakistan and the US in the past decades or so. How often did the US President ever visited Pakistan. Just recently, TAPI for instance. Why is this a matter of significance, particularly in the media when it has to do with Pakistan Russia relationship? By the way, its an old news.

KB | 7 years ago | Reply Putin decided not to come as there could have been a Panama Leak clash with Nawaz Sharif. The later is about to fall from the offshore scandal cliff since both can not make any deal of new kick backs!

joey | 7 years ago | Reply "And we provide a gateway to other South Asian countries." Come on guys. This is trying too much. The only south Asian country Pakistan provides route to is India. If India rejects to accept goods from third countries coming through Pakistan until it is allowed to access Afghan via Pak, Pakistan's road is just a dead end at Wagah.

GHAZAL | 7 years ago | Reply SO no SU -35 OR S-400?

Sami Khan | 7 years ago | Reply Even Chinese President would not visit Pakistan in these circumstances. Pakistan must improve its economy, law and order situation plus foreign policy. Biggest problem is wide spread corruption

Ul Logical | 7 years ago | Reply not a problem; hafeez saeed can inagurate it or can get one of those visiting afghan talibhan to do it; not much significance in this.

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