Landmark trip: Putin due in Islamabad in October
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Pakistan this October, the first-ever trip by any head of state from Russia, indicating an improvement in ties between the former cold-war rivals.
A Foreign Office official confirmed that the Russian president will be arriving in Islamabad during the second week of October as part of an effort by the two countries to move beyond their past.
The official also told The Express Tribune that Putin will meet with the country’s civil and military leaderships and attend a quadrilateral summit.
The formal invitation for the trip was extended by President Asif Ali Zardari following the Russian leader’s election in March.
The fourth of its kind, the summit will also be attended by leaders from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, the official added, and will focus on regional issues with particular emphasis on the Afghan endgame. The last meeting was held in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, in 2011, where the four nations urged the US-led Nato forces to step up the training of local security forces before they pull out of Afghanistan.
Russia has voiced concerns on the future of Afghanistan once the US-led coalition withdraws from the war-torn country and Islamabad shares Moscow’s worries about the future of its neighbour. Both countries have expressed serious apprehension that the situation in Afghanistan may slip into a civil war due to the lack of clear roadmap for future political dispensation.
Relations between Pakistan and Russia, who remained bitter rivals for decades, have improved in recent years as the two countries have attempted to open a new chapter in their otherwise frosty relationship.
(Read: The Russians are coming)
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2012.
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This is good news to Pakistan if you look at it as an option to make friendship out of this. If Pakistan is expecting aid or trying to get money out of US by blackmailing, this will be another effort down the drain :(
India is no NAM thingi its a US lackey
@Ghaznavi: India has graduated from Russian puppy to American Poodle.
really,did you know that we have signed deals worth more than 40 billion dollars in defense trade with Russia.it could be more than 40 billion,i just gave you a rough figure. who told you that Russia were offering Pakistan a nuclear submarine? So Indians are worried that they wont get spare parts for their military toys and missiles from Russia!! Understandable!! from spare parts, we have moved on to joint research,development and production.
So Indians are worried that they wont get spare parts for their military toys and missiles from Russia!! Understandable!!
India has graduated from Russian puppy to American Poodle.
Now Russia is looking for new partners in the region.
Whining India, yet again!!
"Pakistan and Russia, who remained bitter rivals for decades,..." Pakistan and Russia, rivals? Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines "rival" as "one having the same pretensions and claims" Talk about Islamic braggadocio!
@Nadir,
Those butchers who unleash their drones on women and children along the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan do not care much for the "prayers for Muslims" either. Are you posting this from the US Embassy in Islamabad?
If my memory does not betray me, in January 1968, Mr. Kosygen, the then Prime Minister of USSR had visited Pakistan, in reply to late Ayub Khan's visit in 1966 and removing military base in Peshawar afterwards. At that time, USSR gave some military aid and was going to give advanced military hardware. This alerted American and then we got Yahya Khan. All these military hardware was given to India in August 1971. This time we have to be careful. I will all the good luck to the President.
@lalaachee, Nothing like burning feeling if Russia has good relation to Pakistan ..But it is a long shot considering Dagestan muslim revolt ,checnya issues.. I too have fairy tale desire to see pakistan cleanse all terrorists and accept LOC as final border and open trade,borders with India and be prosperous and friendly country to neighbhours and not bother about any other countries internal matter. Coming to reality , you have seen already Russia demanding projects (energy,dam etc) without competitive bidding and so Russia is after money more than brotherlyhood for Pakistan.
@Polpot: China? Really!! Don't go by their VISA policy. They care only about one country - China (and rightly so)
@Lala Gee: "Something is burning."" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The tyres set on fire by the protesters are burning, protesting against the non stop Loadshedding:)
Vienna,August 29,2012 He wants give Pakistan an opportunity to out balance offered by the U.S,befriending India after biting over 55 years! Take the bite, the taste would be good for long time since the Russian Federation is not as far away as the United States. The Window of Opportunity is greater with so much Ismalist geography surroundings is useful for an ideological focusing. Greater chance for peace and prosperity. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
@Harbans: Leave Russia, can you name one major country which supports Pakistan on Kashmir ? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ China
We should definitely rise Chechnya & oppression of Muslimss with Putin
Great News. pakistan must engage with Russia and be part of this world .
@ Vikas
Yes the same way China flayed India and India panicked when the Chinese premier arrived in India and Tibetan protesters were treated a little better than animals. China flays the Indian policy of covert support to Tibetan separatists.
Sri Lanka never forgets the support of terrorist networks like the LTTE by the indian establishment.
Pakistan's policy is pathetic no doubt, but as they say, look whose talking.
@nomi: Do you still want to be useful ?
Putin wants for Russia the major Projects in Pakistan...but without Competitive Bidding +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ What does that tell you of his mindset?
@I.kashmir: u.s. 65 year relation,where pak get nothing but an order of do more"" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pakistan received more than 20 Bn USD from US.......if you get a fraction of that from China or Russia than call me Insane.
As Afridi said, Indians have little hearts, i hope India learn from Pakistan mistakes and avoid US and strenghten ties with Russia and Pakistan.
Great news. I really like this dominant guy. I really envy Zardari for standing beside Putin or Ahmedenijad and discussing policy matters with these. May this visit of Putin prove to be a blessing for Pakistanis.
Rivals? You need to stop building up Pakistan like that. It was and is a wannabe client state of the US and barring something drastic will continue to look at the US for handouts.
35 years ago, this may have been big news.
the cold relation b/w two past rivals will ameliorate by this trip,, RUssia comprehend the importance of pakistan in the region both these countries have to indemnify there past misatkes..,
Mr. Antony Leave Russia, can you name one major country which supports Pakistan on Kashmir ?
Russia is a reliable partner and I wish Pakistan the best.
@Ammar B: "We need to make stronger regional allies like Iran, Russia China and India"
can happen if you will leave terrorism and become a secular country
@ vikas
i agree.
Go whereever you want to or allowed to but do not forget "Masters, not Friends".
So it is okay to have a KGB guy visit Pakistan the same one who killed hundreds of thousands in Afghanistan, than anyone else. Beggers
This time Pakistan is going to get slacked by Russians for creating terrorism in Chechanya. Never seen before that a country inviting some one to get flacked.
funny how we change our colors. From masters in Washington, to masters in Beijing, and now our new found love for Russia. As if the russians dont know our history, our double faced nature and our failures in every field. Russia is simply trying to secure its borders and make sure as NATO withdraws, we dont train the afghans against russia.
Will he say "Do more " or "Dont look both ways"
The greatest blunder we did was to become a complete american camper. Russia might not trust us but it knows that Pakistan can be useful to some extent and this was very kindly explained to them by China.
Pakistan should seriously plan for this visit
The butcher of Chechnya, his backing for the Serbs unleashed misery in Kosovo. Now he is going to be hailed in Pakistan by the same people who were calling for prayers for Muslims in Chechnya and Kosovo. Stinks of hypocrisy!
I hope Pakistan behaves this time and acts a rational state. It is the best chance for it to improve its diplomatic image.
Good news. Lets leave behind the past and work together on harmonisation, trade, regional development and security.
No matter what the West says about Putin, he is one of the few leaders who stands up against them. Pakistan should capitalize on this visit but we all know nothing will be achieved out of this visit.
No land mark trip at all one is begger the other is choser.
This is the best news I hope we get are mind set out from things like the Baghdad pact. Cento never helped us. Look what being an ally with US has done. I think cooperation with Russia will the in the best interest of Pakistan. We need to make stronger regional allies like Iran, Russia China and India.