Russian deputy FM: Talks on delivery of fighter jets, attack helicopters under way

Sergei Ryabkov says the two countries’ ties are evolving not only militarily but also in the energy sector

Pakistan and Russia are currently engaged in talks on the delivery of Russian multirole Mi-35M attack helicopters and the latest Su-35 fighter jets, Russian news agency Sputnik reported.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed this week that Pakistan is Russia’s closest partner, adding that the two countries’ ties are “evolving not only militarily but in other sectors, including energy.”

With relations between Pakistan and India strained, it may not come as a surprise that the military expansion between Moscow and Islamabad could irk India.

However, Ryabkov told journalists: ”I do not think that the contracts under discussion will cause jealousy on the part of any of the two sides.”

Last month, a source in the Russian system of military and technical cooperation revealed that a draft contract has been delivered from Russia to Pakistan for the dispatch of four Mil Mi-35M (Nato reporting name: Hind E) combat helicopters, according to a report published on TASS. Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said that talks pertaining to the delivery of helicopters were under way with the Pakistani side. However, it declined to disclose the details of these consultations.

Just last year, Russia’s Rostec hi-tech corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov announced that Russia had lifted its embargo on the delivery of armaments and military hardware to Pakistan and was holding negotiations on the delivery of helicopters to the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th,  2015.