Russian president puts off trip to country
Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed his maiden trip to Pakistan due to unspecified reasons, according to the foreign ministry.
In the first week of October, Putin was to embark on the first-ever state visit to Pakistan by any Russian president. He was also scheduled to attend a quadrilateral summit with leaders from Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
A statement issued by the Foreign Office said the summit, which was planned from October 2-3, was being rescheduled. The statement said that in a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari, Putin expressed his eagerness to “jointly enhance our efforts to further develop ties and advance mutually beneficial trade and economic projects.”
The Russian president also wrote “I am confident that in future we shall be able to find opportunities for arranging our personal meeting. We shall always be happy to receive you in Russia”.
The Foreign Office did not cite any reason for the postponement, but sources told The Express Tribune that the security situation created by violent protests in Pakistan against the anti-Islam film produced in the United States might have been the deciding factor behind the cancellation.
However, a senior security official had a different story to tell. The official, requesting anonymity, said certain international players were not comfortable with the ‘realignment’ in the region. The official also disclosed that Russia had offered to host the quadrilateral meeting in Moscow instead of Islamabad.
“But we should insist that it must take place in Pakistan,” the official said.
Sources said the visit was only postponed and the move will not affect ongoing efforts by Islamabad and Moscow to begin a new chapter in their relationship.
If and when the trip goes through, Putin will become the first head of state from the former Soviet Union to visit Pakistan, an indication of a gradual improvement in ties between the former cold war rivals.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2012.
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