Is Pakistan moving away from the US block only to join Russia led block? No one has clear answer to this. However recent developments has shown that Pakistan is eager to develop ties with Moscow. Pakistan and Russia are warming up bilateral ties. Credit goes to Indian authorities for bebeautifully maintaining relationship between both Washington and Moscow. India’s excelent relationship with two arch rivals Russia and the US have provided much needed courage to Pakistani authorities to follow the suit.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk met with Pakistani officials in Islamabad in a bid to deepen economic ties and expand cooperation “across multiple sectors,” as Moscow grapples with U.S. and EU economic sanctions over its war against Ukraine.
Overchuk’s visit comes after two days of meetings between John Bass, U.S. acting undersecretary of state for political affairs, and Pakistani army chief General Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad.
During a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart earlier this in Islamabad, Dar revealed that discussions centered on expanding economic ties between the two countries. Islamabad is abuzz with the speculation that Russians are helping Pakistan to build a steel mill. If true, it is going to be excellent step in revival of Moscow-Islamabad ties.
Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Russia reached an unprecedented $1 billion last year. The countries are committed to expanding trade ties by addressing logistical and related issues. Officials familiar with the development in Pakistan-Russia bilateral relationship are optimistic that two sides are going to enhance volume to bilateral trade from existing one billion US dollars to $5 billion in a few years. In fact, India’s bid to maintain excellent relationship with arch rivals Russia and the US have given Pakistan much confidence to follow the suit. However, it is not an easy task for Islamabad to follow Indian path. Islamabad may loose a biggest economic partner like the US if it goes ahead to develop ties with Russia.
According to officials familiar with the development, Pakistan and Russia are expanding ties in many fields, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchases. However, sanctions against Russia restrict cooperation between the two countries. Can Pakistan still go ahead to enhance bilateral ties with Russia? It’s a million dollar question.
“Even today, we looked at how to expand our relationship, and overcome this constraint of the banking system, which you know are facing sanctions, which obviously constrains our relationship, the volume of our relationship could have been much bigger,” Ishaq Dar told reporters in Islamabad earlier this weeek.
Dar said Pakistan and the U.S. Department of State had detailed discussions in October 2023, and American officials agreed to Pakistan’s request to purchase Russian LNG, as long as a committee of U.S. trade officials determines the price.
Pakistan views Russia as an important player in West, South and Central Asia. Authorities in Islamabad aim high to work with Moscow toward peace and stability in Afghanistan. However, it will not be an easy task for Islamabad as Washington can be a silent spectator. Pakistan may face the wrath of going ahead with Russiian plans in Afghanistan.
Also, Pakistan’s army media wing said in a statement on Wednesday that Russia’s Overchuk spoke with General Syed Asim Munir, chief of the army staff (COAS), in Rawalpindi.
“Both reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fostering traditional defense ties with Russia. Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to strengthen security and defense cooperation in multiple domains,” the statement says.
Analysts say the Russian deputy prime minister’s visit and the expansion of cooperation shows Moscow is expanding its influence in the region.
“In my view, a vacuum has emerged after the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, and Russia is positioning itself to fill that void. China is also making efforts in this direction. As a result, Pakistan is working under this policy framework to improve its relations with regional countries, including Russia,” professor Manzoor Afridi, a Pakistani academic on international relations, told VOA.
Analysts on Pakistan’s Foreign policy and geopolitics are off the opinion that the US may not react until warming ties in Russia-pakistan bilateral relationship are only about he primary goal during this period is to enhancing of trade, strengthen diplomatic ties, and develop infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector. However, the United States may react sharply if Pakistan-Russia ties go beyond that threashold. The US has restricted certain aspects of Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, while tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated. In this context, Pakistan’s relationship with Russia holds significance.
Pakistan received its first shipment of Russian liquefied petroleum gas in 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the possibility of liquefied natural gas supplies earlier in July on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit at Astana, Kazakhstan.
Pakistan’s bid to warm its ties with Washington is a welcomming step. However, Islamabad has to pay a heavy price in case for cozzying up with Russia. It may have to loose an economic partner like the US. Can Pakistanafford to loose a partner like the US? It’s a million dollar question.
