SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
It is said that in politics there is no permanent friend or foe but interests. Thus new alliances, friendships and enmities are not a new phenomenon in the international politics. Iran, Russia and India were considered as a block and Russia always supported its allies in UN resolutions and conflicts while Russia and Pakistan never enjoyed good ties especially after Pakistan’s role in its disintegration. Meanwhile Russia and US are two rival elephants of international arena. Russia and its allies always opposed US and its policies while US and its allies always tried to block Russian hegemony. However things are totally changed soon after India’s decision to buy arm from US and nuclear technology agreement with superpower, while After Iran and US successful deal, Russia seems to lost its trustworthy allies. Thus in order to keep its presence in South Asia Russia has decided to lean towards Pakistan, enemy of old times. Both the countries are
Clearly, sensibly moving closer to each other. The ties improved last year, when in Pakistan there was talk of buying the Hind helicopter from the Russians. That the chopper was custom made for the terrain where we are busy with our counterinsurgency is one thing. Russians arms are also cheaper and there is much less bureaucratic procedure involved than dealing with the Americans. So a double coincidence of wants was established, from where no doubt deeper military contacts were made. The agreement between Defence Minister Kh Asif and his Russian counterpart – regarding joint military drills – therefore seems the first of many interactions between two countries that were once at opposite ends in the waning years of the Cold War.
Interestingly, the two ministers agreed that conflicts must be resolved through diplomatic means. It seems that Pakistan is going to correct its historical mistake after its inception was to establish close ties with the United States but to ignore the Russians however it remains unclear whether Pakistan’s efforts to bolster ties with Russia will pay off.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
