Senior anti-drugs official Viktor Ivanov on Friday became the second high-profile Russian after President Vladimir Putin to cancel his trip to Pakistan at the eleventh hour in the last three months.
A senior official of the Foreign Office expressed concern over the sudden tour cancellation by the head of the Russian Federal Drug Control Service. “The calling-off of his visit to Pakistan at the last minute is a disturbing development for Islamabad,” he said.
This latest snub has left Islamabad confused over the fate of its future ties with Russia.
Sources told the Express Investigation Cell (EIC) on Thursday that Ivanov, a close aide to President Putin, was scheduled to visit Pakistan from November 11 to 13 to attend a two-day international conference on narcotics control in Islamabad.
Pakistan had invited many international players directly or indirectly affected by narcotics smuggling. Russia was seen as a key participant at the conference and Pakistan made intense efforts over the last two months to ensure that Moscow would send high-level officials at the conference.
Pakistan also wanted to give the impression to the world that its bilateral ties with Moscow were on the right track through the narcotics control conference.
The Foreign Office received a message from Moscow of Ivanov’s unavailability for the conference. The message created confusion among Pakistani authorities, as they could not comprehend what compelled Moscow to cancel his participation.
Officials representing the Foreign Office, the interior ministry’s interior division and the narcotics control ministry had made all the necessary arrangements for his meetings with Pakistani officials on the sidelines of the conference. Ivanov was scheduled to have exclusive meetings with top level policy-makers and decision- makers in Islamabad during his stay.
After, receiving the message from Moscow regarding the cancellation of his visit, officials had to also cancel the scheduled meetings between Ivanov and his Pakistani counterparts.
Instead, a lower level delegation will represent Russia at the conference, something Pakistani authorities believe may not serve the purpose of highlighting the importance of the conference. Among the countries that have confirmed their participation at the conference include the US, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan.
The authorities believe that in light of the menace of narcotics that has plagued Pakistan for decades, hosting the conference would help improve its image internationally.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2012.
COMMENTS (24)
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Pakistan needs a clear vision on relations with Russia. Russia as a counterweight is not feasible.Normal sound relations with a big neighbor is the right approach.
@Nowshera Pakhtun: "No one but Kashmiris are going to decide that issue. " That train left the station a long time back and the cows have still not returned home. No one knows about the schedule of the next train and you might forget about milking the cows! Time to wake up and stop daydreaming. Regards!
A nation has to earn respect by its deeds. They cannot demand it.
AMERICA NEVER LIKED US TO BE OUT OF ITS ,CAMP, - THIS IS HISTORY..
@G. Din: ..It may be of interest to Pakistanis that US think-tanks have started releasing policy opinions advising their government to recognize Maharaja Hari Singh’s accession to India as full, final and perfectly legal
Correction: No one but Kashmiris are going to decide that issue. Not India. Not American think tanks. With regards, An Azad Kashmiri
@Realist: "...all our thorny issues at international level (like Kashmir, Indus Water Treaty, Siachen, etc.) will be decided in India’s favor." No one other than India is going to decide all those issues. You may not expect any change in those from where they are today. This does not mean that India would not welcome support from any quarter. It may be of interest to Pakistanis that US think-tanks have started releasing policy opinions advising their government to recognize Maharaja Hari Singh's accession to India as full, final and perfectly legal. (ET, understandably, did not report this news item from US).
The PPP jiyalas will complain that this is all propaganda & that, it is a conspiracy to derail democracy....their favorite slogan....
So what if the visit cancelled. What on earth id pakistan going to lose? Who on earth would call it a snub???
Perhaps the fact that under US/NATO/Pakistan rule Afghanistan narcotic production reaching an all time high, had something to do with it.
Russia and India go way back. Contrary to the general perception here of Russia playing a back door game in Afghanistan via Pakistan's help, Russia will never forfeit India for Pakistan especially now when India is an emerging global power.
Our government and military establishment need to foster their relations with the United States otherwise we will be left alone and all our thorny issues at international level (like Kashmir, Indus Water Treaty, Siachen, etc.) will be decided in India's favor.
Please wake up, don't expect China to intervene when the biggest Chinese trading partner (and where China makes its money!) is the United States.
That means Russia is already receiving adequate narcotics from Afghanistan and Central Asian states. They have no dependence on drugs available in our tribal areas.
Pakistani please stop slapping on your face. Its typical of Russian bully style foreign policy. if they dont want relationship fine. you can still progress without Russia. This time it is Russian fault not Pakistani.
Well isn't the narcotics situation a basket case as other issues in Pakistan so that is probably why he did not want to attend. Besides Pakistan does not have much of a world standing, look at the Pakistani politicians and other people in power. Anyone can be bought or sold in Pakistan.
..........and our rulers still can't see the writing on the wall.
Russia might not like US influnce in the region but they are not easy with Taliban ruling Afghnaistan either which always had and will have redicalized influence on their Muslim population back home . So either way, our smart Generals' policy of using fanatics as foreign policy tool, will give us nothing but distrust from International Community and still GHQ thinks that they are the best when it comes to formulating foreign policy....I can't help laughing like crazy, seriously !
Probably the basic foreign policy is incorrect, where Pakistani rulers have not learnt, KHUDI KO KAR BULAND ITNA....
"The authorities believe that in light of the menace of narcotics that has plagued Pakistan for decades, hosting the conference would help improve its image internationally."
If the menace has affected PAkistan, the goal of the conference should be to curb the drug menace NOT - improve its image intrnationally - show US that Russia is also vying for it etc.
Once Pakistan's institutions take control over its law, order and governance and Pakistan stops being a global hub for drugs and terror, the image will automatically improve and the RSVPs will automatically turn to Yes. Focus on fixing the fundamentals, the atmospherics will take care of themselves.
Well US has dumped us and Russia does not want us. China carries us along as a burden.
What you should we do know?
pakistan: coming na?? russia: haan haan............when is india arriving....?? pakistan: they aren't coming.... russia : ohhh....... pakistan hello?? hello??? there???hello????..........................arre???
It is better to improve relations with Russia on priority basis , o achieve the balance of interest by world players for ultimate peace in this region.
these conferences make difference only when Pakistan can deliver on it promises, if they cannot, then these conferences mean nothing, Russians have other options and better things to do ,why would they want to waste their time.
First, lets get our house in order, then worry about who is coming to Pakistan or not. We're about to head towards a big change, and a surging middle class is about to make a statement against the status quo in elections 2013. Once we get over that hurdles, other things will fall into place.
That is unless people end up voting for PPP/PML-N/MQM/ANP again.
India not Invited? we should feel insulted too.. lol