Pak-Russia ties: Exploring avenues to promote cooperation

A focus on shared interests to prove mutually beneficial.

ISLAMABAD:

Speakers at a conference called for stregthening ties between Pakistan and Russia at a conference on Wednesday.

The conference “Pakistan-Russia Relations: Emerging Strategic and Economic Dynamics” was organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute.

Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal from Quaid-i-Azam University’s School of Politics and International Relations said in international politics, convergence of interests makes alliances, highlighting interests shared by Pakistan and Russia including combating terrorism, bilateral trade, stability in Afghanistan particularly after withdrawal of US-Nato forces in 2014, arms control and disarmament for prevention of an arms race in outer space and centrality of Central Asia. “Pakistan is a promising avenue from an economic perspective.” Cooperation in space technology and transfer of military hardware could prove rewarding, he added.

Ambassador (retd) Khalid Khattak, who served in Russia from 2008 to 2013 said Russians had ditched the cold war doctrine and had adopted network diplomacy. “Russians consider Pakistan a part of solution in Afghanistan”. Main convergence points between both countries include security and economic cooperation both in a bilateral and a regional context, he added.



National Defence University Professor Mohammad Ali was of the view that the two centuries-old global economic system was changing, moving from an Atlantic-based economy to Pacific-based economy and Russia aimed to be the energy bridge between Europe and Asia-Pacific in the Asian century. Pak-Russian relations should be based on common interests instead of an alliance against other regional and international powers, he stated. “It’s important to re-structure bilateral relations.” Gwadar Port should be linked with the national railway with Russian cooperation to transport heavy goods from Arabian Sea to Central Asia and East Asia. Prospects of coal, gas, nuclear-based energy should be explored due to extensive Russian expertise in those sectors, he added.

Former vice chancellor Peshawar University, Dr Azmat Hayat Khan in his concluding remarks said Russia was trying to make progress in the economic and technological spheres to wield more strategic power to rival the US.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2013.