Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will travel to Moscow next week, contrary to earlier speculation that his visit might be cancelled after Russian President Vladimir Putin postponed his trip to Islamabad.
The chief military spokesperson confirmed to The Express Tribune on Saturday that Gen Kayani would undertake the ‘historic’ trip to Russia from October 3 to 6.
The director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, said that it would be the first-ever bilateral visit by any Pakistan army chief to Russia, marking the beginning of a new phase in the otherwise troubled ties between the two countries.
During his three-day stay, Gen Kayani is expected to meet top Russian military and civil leaders to discuss options for expanding military-to-military cooperation between the two countries, according to Gen Bajwa.
Pakistan and Russia remained bitter cold-war rivals in the 1980s when Islamabad joined the Western alliance, led by the United States, to defeat the former Soviet Union in Afghanistan.
However, relations have shown gradual improvement in recent years with the two countries seeking to bury their troubled past.
President Putin was scheduled to visit Islamabad in the first week of October but the trip was put off due to ‘unspecified reasons’.
Pakistan, which had been preparing for the historic trip, was left disappointed at the last-minute change of plans. An official said that by putting off Putin’s maiden trip to Pakistan, Russia might have “inadvertently become the victim of American Great Game in the region”. He also pointed fingers at the Indian lobby, thought to have pressured Moscow into cancelling the trip at the behest of the US.
“Increased cooperation between Pakistan and Russia will certainly provide us more leverage when it comes to our relationship with the Americans,” the official explained. Some reports also indicated that President Putin postponed his visit because of Islamabad’s reluctance to award a lucrative contract for the multibillion-dollar Iran gas pipeline project to Russia’s state-owned Gazprom.
The two sides have been discussing the project for months but the deal is yet to be finalised, as Russia intends to finance the pipeline without entering the competitive international bidding process.
Despite the setback, Foreign Office officials said Pakistan was still hopeful the Russian president would eventually undertake the visit.
They maintained that Gen Kayani’s trip is an indication that efforts are ongoing to open a ‘new chapter’ in ties between the two countries.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2012.
COMMENTS (19)
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I was watching Bolta Pakistan, on one pvt channel.... It was about mishandling of Putin's visit to Pakistan..... I know that mishandling was deliberate by the bureaucracy... and it is also visible,that who are influencing them....our establishment.... because they didnt want civilian leaders to strike any deal with Russia before meeting of General Kiyani... army could diverted big chunk of aid towards them... as they always do.......
LOL, I can see the jealous Indians out here
@Prius: Sir/Madam I don't know which economic school you attended!!! This world is dependent on each other and China's great deal of economy depends on the USA. The debt you are calling is in the form of goods bought from China and and not sold that much to China in exchange and if any loans taken those are business deals to gain interest/profit advantage, not begging. Today if USA do balancing act compulsorily, China's economy will drastically suffer.
@Prius: 'Beggars can not be telling the 3rd world what to do anymore, and being in debt to China is the definition of a true beggar.
So from the above, USA does not have to repay this debt? Are you insane or what? China is buying UST for its own survival also. IF USA stops buying from China, there will be a massive unemployment and rebellion in China and its downfall. Please check before writing something foolish.
It is reported here that Pakistan is also looking into buying Russian weapons. Seems the establishment does not read comments on ET as most of its people say Russian weapons are inferior to Chinese ones. Scavenging for friends?
@anisaqel,
US and EU are in massive debt to China, and China is selling off the toxic treasury bonds.
Beggars can not be telling the 3rd world what to do anymore, and being in debt to China is the definition of a true beggar
Lol @ this beggar talk. US pays Pakistan to allow drone attacks and NATO supplies.
It's not aid!!!!!
InshAllah , Imran khan and PTI is putting an end to this money payments, and likewise ending NATO supplies and drones.
No "ghairat" here? The champions of ghairat brigade would pounce on the civilians through their paid proxies if they had done something similar.
We are at the verge of loosing ourselves as an ally to the USA and European Union due to extremism, bigotry, hate and constitutionally contradictory on principles. No choices left but except to change ourselves as the whole world is not going to adapt our ways, they are much more civilized and living in the 21st century and not in the 15th century.
Indo-Russian joint venture fifth generation multirole stealth fighter jet Sukhoi T-50 PAK/FA is in the final stage.
it is very nice stance of pakistan administration, we will love to see the good and constructive relations with russians people..
Let Gen Kayani out of force of habit not ask for Peking Duck in Moscow +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pakistan simply can not offer Russia what India can. India is a growing economic power. no nation wants to sacrifice its relations with India. Pakistan has got nothing more than location.
No reason to cancel it because some people refuse to grow up mentally.
Good. What ever are the reasons for Putin's postponed trip to Pakistan. We should show full dedication to the peace and cooperation with Russia both in terms of economics and militarily front.
Some thing to learn from communists as well.