ISLAMABAD/BISHKEK – Prime Minister Imran Khan has said Islamabad wants to procure weapons from Russia and develop military-to-military relations, adding that he is happy Pakistan is moving “closer” to Russia in the “changing” world.
“Yes, we are looking for arms from Russia, and I know our military is already in touch with the Russian military,” the Pakistani premier told Sputnik News on Thursday in his first ever interview to any Russian media since taking office.
While both countries were in “opposite camps” during the Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979-1989), times have changed, and “I am very happy that we now are moving closer to Russia,” Khan said.
The world is not what it used to be, according to the PM, and this has effects on bilateral relations.
Islamabad used to “look to the United States as the only ally and trading partner.” But now China, with its Belt and Road Initiative, is increasingly shifting into the focus of interest as well, Khan said.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/russian-helicopters-successfully-tests-ansat-aircraft-under-high-temperatures-in-pakistan/
The PM also shared his expectations for his meeting with President Putin, commented on relations with India, sanctions on Iran and the situation in Afghanistan.
Khan said Pakistan and India resolving differences by military means is “madness” and the only way the two nuclear-armed rivals can fix ties is through dialogue. “We hope that our tension with India decreases, so we do not have to buy arms because we want to spend money on human development,” he was quoted by Sputnik.
“We hope that, as I’ve said, now that the elections are over, India will respond positively to these initiatives, to further people-to-people contact,” the PM remarked. However, “people-to-people contact only works when the governments also try to get closer,” he added.
When asked about his plan to have talks with the Russian leadership in the near future and whether he himself has planned any visits to Russia, the PM said: “I would love to visit Russia. I have — a long time ago — only been once. And, yes, I hope to meet the Russian leadership in this conference in Bishkek, the SCO meeting this coming week. So I hope to meet President Putin.”
Although the Pakistani military has relied on Western and Chinese suppliers for decades, its interest in Russian weapon systems has grown over the years. Recently, there have been reports that Pakistan is looking at an array of fighter jets and attack helicopters, including the Sukhoi Su-35 and Mi-35M.
Russia officially lifted an arms embargo against Pakistan, in place since the Soviet-Afghan War, in June 2014.
Both the Asian countries agreed to the $153 million helicopter deal, which included training, spare parts and ground support equipment, during then-Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif’s visit to Russia in June 2016.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/pakistan-receives-four-mi-35m-attack-helicopters-in-first-true-weapon-purchase-from-russia/
Pakistani troops have also been taking part in Russian war games, while a number of their officers have been trained at military academies in Russia.
