Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is about to visit Russia. This will be the first time in the last 23 years that a Pakistani Prime Minister will visit Russia. Imran Khan's Russia tour is scheduled for the end of this month. A large delegation of Pakistani officials will also go to Russia with him. Imran Khan is currently on a China visit. A few days ago there were reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin may visit Pakistan. It was then told that the talks between Pakistan and Russia regarding Putin's visit are in the final stage. However, no official statement has yet been issued by Russia regarding Putin's visit to Pakistan. Nevertheless, preparations are going on in full swing for his visit to Pakistan. Imran Khan has also spoken to President Putin on the phone several times since the Taliban took over Afghanistan. During this time he had invited Putin to visit Pakistan. In return, Putin also invited Imran Khan to visit Russia.
Why is Russia strengthening ties with Pakistan?
The Taliban occupation of Afghanistan has changed geo-politics in South Asia. The increasing interest of China and Pakistan in Afghanistan has also put India in tension. This is the reason that at this time every powerful country in the world wants to maintain its presence in the Arabian Sea region along with the Indo-Pacific. With the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, Russia also sees an opportunity to increase its dominance in South Asia. In such a situation, with the help of Pakistan, he is engaged in trying to find the Taliban and establish peace in friendly countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. This is the reason why Vladimir Putin and Imran Khan have had at least three phone conversations since August last year. The two leaders had also recently reached China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. However, even after making lakhs of requests to Imran Khan, he could not meet Vladimir Putin.
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Has Russia changed its foreign policy?
Russia is being accused that it has changed its foreign policy regarding India. This is the reason that in April last year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reached Pakistan after visiting India. This was the first visit by a Russian foreign minister to Pakistan in nine years. On the other hand, due to the Corona epidemic last year, the India-Russia summit was postponed for some time. This was the first time in the last 20 years that the India-Russia summit was postponed. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Minister had alleged that the US was creating a rift in the relations between India and Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin himself did the same thing in October 2019 at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club. Putin mentioned China, Germany, Brazil and South Africa, but did not say anything about India. Putin had visited India in December last year to refute similar allegations and express solidarity with India. During this, he also praised India-Russia relations fiercely.
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Pakistan-Russia both need each other
Russia has to control the Taliban to some extent with the help of Pakistan. Apart from this, it is also looking for new customers to buy its defense weapons. Since since independence, Pakistan has remained a hanger of one or the other superpower. Pakistan knows that without coming under the umbrella of any superpower, it can neither run the turbulent economy nor can it stop the coup of Pakistan Army. After independence, Pakistan first remained under the flag of Britain, later it became a pawn of America and trained the Mujahideen against the then Soviet Union. Now he is in the shelter of China and is trying to make Russia his friend. Due to this, Pakistan is getting not only new loans but also weapons. China and Russia, on the other hand, are looking for global allies against the US. In such a situation, Pakistan needs Russia and Russia also needs a little bit of Pakistan. Russia, however, knows that its growing proximity to Pakistan could anger India. In such a situation, Putin is also taking steps.
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What does Russia want from Pakistan?
The real objective of Russia is to maintain its presence in South Asia. Russia sees this opportunity in the midst of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the bitterness in Pakistan's relations with the US. On the other hand, Russia is also looking for new customers for its oil and gas. It wants to bring gas pipelines through former Soviet countries to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Apart from this, Russian companies are also going to start the work of laying a pipeline from Karachi in Sindh province to Kasur in Punjab province. Significantly, the Russia-Pakistan gas pipeline agreement was signed in 2015, but due to US sanctions on Russian companies and many other issues, the work of laying the 1122-km pipeline could not start. If this pipeline is laid, then the supply of oil and gas to Pakistan will start directly from Russia. This can reduce the dependence of Pakistan on the Gulf countries for energy needs.
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Russia-Pakistan will also share military cooperation and intelligence
In September last year, Russian Deputy Defense Minister General Aleksandr V Fomin held talks with Pakistani officials to enhance bilateral military ties. Since September, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin at least three times. In September, the Pakistani Army also conducted a joint exercise named Druzhba-2021 with the Russian Army. Russia and Pakistan have agreed to enhance joint exercises between the two countries, share intelligence and exchange views on regional security. If Pakistan starts getting intelligence from Russia, then it will be a matter of increasing concern for India. Not only this, by conducting bilateral exercises, Pakistan can get more information about the weapons of Russia, which India uses. The biggest threat to Pakistan is from India, in such a situation, it can try to increase its own strength by putting Russia in its side.
