ISLAMABAD:
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.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
I was going through different newspapers, Indian, Russian.. I came up with this.
Zamir Kabulov, head of the 2nd Asia Department in the Russian Foreign Ministry said Putin’s decision linked to Pakistan’s reluctance to award the work of building its section of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline to Russian energy giant Gazprom. The firm’s chief recently visited Pakistan and made presentations to the Foreign Ministry and other departments.
But Gazprom wanted the project to be awarded to it without bidding, something that Pakistan is reluctant to do. Russia had made a proposal in this regard when Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar visited Russia earlier this year. Pakistani officials said such a step would violate the rules of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.
He also said “The Asia Development Bank, dominated by Japan, and the U.S.-controlled World Bank appear reluctant to support ventures where Russia plays a lead role,” adding though that Russia would still support the regional projects if they are undertaken by Western, not Russian companies.
Sources: The Hindu, Deccanherald, rferl, Russiatoday
@Soldier: "The future of the world economy has been geogarphically tied with the Pakistan in general & with Baluchistan in particular, more specifically with Gawader."
Delusions of grandeur.
another slap to Govt due to its policies
Keeping in view the emerging scenario in which the US and its Western allies are eyeing at the enormous natural resources of Central Asia and are also acting upon a strategy to contain the Russian and Chinese influence, Russia has to develop better understanding with Pakistan on the regional issues. For the time being Putin had to put on hold his visit to Pakistan due to Indian and Western pressure but at the end of the day Russia has to normalize its relations with Pakistan particularly when India, during the past few years has moved too close to USA.
The of postponement of Trip of Russian President is for unspecified reason but this unspecified reason is known to all and sundry.