Russia seeks to expand ties with Pakistan

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday issued a video statement expressing his country’s desire to expand cooperation with Pakistan—at the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Islamabad.

Interestingly, the anniversary almost coincides with the arrival of the first shipment of Russian oil to Karachi Port. Pakistan and Russia have remained bitter cold-war rivals but their bilateral ties have taken a positive turn in recent years with both sides willing to bury the past and adjust to the new realities.

The two countries have been making efforts to translate their years of quiet diplomacy into tangible outcomes. In April, the two countries signed a landmark deal that allowed Pakistan to receive the first Russian oil shipment at the weekend. The first shipment is part of the pilot project to assess if Russian oil can be beneficial for Pakistan. It is reported that the first shipment was imported at a discounted rate.

“We know about the great interest and respect that the Pakistani people have towards Russia and President Vladimir Putin. We appreciate it very much,” the foreign minister said in the statement.

He said there had been different periods in bilateral relations over the past three quarters of a century. However, he added, Russia had always been interested in expanding cooperation with Pakistan, and under no circumstances has abandoned its commitments.

"The participation of Soviet specialists in the construction of the largest steel mill in Karachi (now called Pakistan Steel Mills) in the 1980s, despite the conflict raging in Afghanistan at the time, is clear evidence of this. The Guddu Thermal Power Plant, then the largest in your country, was also commissioned at that time,” said Lavrov.

“Nowadays, our relations are advanced and based on trust. They are founded on the concurrence or proximity of approaches to the key issues of the international agenda. Together with our Pakistani partners, we stand for shaping a more just and democratic multipolar world order,” he added.

“We respect the cultural and civilizational diversity of peoples and their right to determine the avenues of their political, social and economic development themselves.

“I would like to note that Russia's vision of the world order and our understanding of traditional moral values is in harmony with the principles of faith, unity and discipline formulated by the Father of the Pakistani people Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It is on these pillars that the statehood of modern Pakistan is based.”

He said Russia attached great importance to further constructive cooperation with Pakistan in international fora.

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“We highly appreciate Pakistan's contribution to the activities of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. We welcome Islamabad's active involvement in joint work within the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] as a full member of this organization, which plays an important role in establishing multilateral cooperation in Greater Eurasia.”

“We consider the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to be a key international partner in the joint efforts to combat common security challenges and threats, including trans-border crime and terrorism.”

“It is encouraging that over the recent years we have succeeded in making significant progress in bilateral trade. Russia has become a major supplier of wheat to Pakistan, with shipments exceeding one million tons last year. Negotiations on launching a cooperation project in the oil sector are at their final stage.”

He said Russia was willing to work together on further engagement with Pakistan and peoples, strengthening mutually beneficial relations in politics, security, economy, education, in cultural and humanitarian fields as well as in other areas. “Pakistan-Roosi dosti zindabad,” he concluded.