“Russia continues to maintain a steady pace to improve relations with the Muslim world”

Fuad Safarov, exclusevily to VK.

Muhammad Asif Noor, Editor-In-Chief of The Diplomatic Insight, answers to the questions of Vestnik Kavkaza

- Russia and Pakistan have a long history and a different relationship. Than it is today the country interested in each other, from what constituents develops bilateral?

- Looking at the history of relations, these dates back to the time of presence of  British Empire in the subcontinent, when Russia and Britain engaged themselves in Great Game of riches and rule in the region  Although the relations are aged but witnessed various bumps on the way but still both countries were now able to manage and develop their congeniality of relations after tumultuous events of 9/11. In the current geopolitical and strategic scenario of the region, Pakistan is revamping its partnership and relationship with countries like Russia. The unreliable friendship of US has always made Pakistan to be at the receiving end, leaving aside being taken as a partner. Russia and Pakistan needs to develop deep rooted and long lasting political, strategic, economic relations on the basis of sound and greater appeal for intellectual collaboration, so as to lift “the mist of mutual incomprehension left behind by the cold war”.

After over these years now both states have realized that the prism of distrust through which view of each other was murky, must be removed. Pakistan and Russia needs to forward their steps by taking a small leap in the direction to cover the journey of thousand miles. Russia and Pakistan extended hands of cooperation in the field of education, energy, trade, counter terrorism and counter narcotics.  Both the countries have mutual understanding and shared objective of peace and harmony in the region with development. Over the course of relations both states exchanges visits of highest level. It is the need of the time that Pakistan must take an earnest and eager effort to improve relations with Russia. 

Exchange of high level visit began as far as in 1956 when First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers Anastas I. Mikoyan paid an official visit to Pakistan. The decade of 50s was marked by several agreements that were signed by both states approving on cooperation on economic field. In 60s, President Ayoub visited Russia and met with the then Soviet Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Kosygin. Both exchanged and extended hands of cooperation and in economic and defence fields. These visits were made to bring the two states together and closer for more cooperation. During the decade of 60s  Pakistan and Russia, foes of Cold war, enhanced their cooperation and as  Pakistan was looking for more options in the international system for support in defence and strategic cooperation and Russia was a better option. The highlight of the decade was Indo-Pak war in 65 where Russia provided its good offices to end the hostility between the two. Tashkent Declaration can be called as a major landmark in the relations. Many analysts like a well known American Scholar Hafeez Malik termed the decade of 60s as when both countries   enjoyed “emergence of realistic relationship”.

The tumultuous decade of 70s began with an official visit of the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1972 and later in 1974. While later the formation of Bangladesh in 1971, Pakistan faced a setback but during that time Russia and Pakistan cooperated in various projects of mutual interest and cooperation. Like for instance Russia extended cooperation in building a steel manufacturing unit near Karachi was of great help from Russia. Another milestone in the successful bilateral relations was the successful collaboration establishment of Pakistan Steel Mills. The decade ended with Soviet invasion in Afghanistan which resulted in blow to the Russo-Pak relations till the designation of Soviet Union and transformation of it to Russian Federation.  The afghan problem marred the relations but both states began working on the peaceful resolution of Afghan problem till 1988 of Geneva agreements. After the end of Cold War and Soviet disintegration, Pakistan recongnised the new Russian Federation on 20th December 1991 and later established diplomatic relations with the all the new emerging states of Central Asia. 

- Pakistan has a very active role in the Islamic world. Russia, as a country with a large population professing Islam, acts observer in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Are there any common points of views of the processes happening today in the Middle East and North Africa, and as the provisions of the former Soviet Union - Central Asia South Caucasus?

- Pakistan and Russia share common objectives of goals of creating peace and sustainable security in the region. Russia has always been supporting Pakistan in its endeavors. Pakistan has also tried to create relations with Muslim world. Russia supported Pakistan for its entry into Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Pakistan helped Russia to have observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Russia played a proactive and positive role in Middle  East. Russia and the Islamic World explore various fields of co-operation in the context of a changing international environment wherein a search for new allies and strategic partners are an ongoing reality.  Russia has always been in a near and geographical proximity to the Muslim world. In terms of arts, culture, history, demography, ethnicities and identities, Russia and Muslim world has relations since the 9/10 century. These relations have enabled Muslim of the region to have close relations with the Muslim world. After the end of the Cold War onwards, at global, regional and domestic level. Russia’s presence in OIC as an observer state is an important link between Muslims and Russia itself. The relation between Russia and Muslim world is kind of opportunity for the Muslims around the globe who are facing numerous and daunting challenges of today. The forums like OIC can play an important role as a bridge between Islamic world and Russia wherein both sides can develop deeper and closer relations with each other on shared grounds of common interest and objectives. The relations although have gone through various levels and stages but still there is a long way to go. This forum would also help both sides to engage in a dialogue with each other to clear misperceptions that exist regarding Muslim world and Russia.

- How can you assess the prospects for economic cooperation between Russia and Pakistan, in the energy sector, as well as military-technical cooperation?

Pakistan and Russia have always been cooperating with each other regarding developing closer ties in every field be that energy cooperation, military or technical field, trade or commerce, people to people contacts, education and various other sectors. Pakistan and Russia are in process of developing a roadmap for energy cooperation with each other. In a series of talks and round of dialogue between Russia-Pakistan working group, various talks has been done in order to enhance cooperation at significant levels. Russian companies are contributing in the development of infrastructure in Pakistan’s oil and gas industry especially the gas pipelines that are posing as life lines for Pakistan including Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan - India and Iran. These companies are also contributing in the development of Muzaffargarh power plant (three 470 MW turbines) and Tarbela plant (three 470 MW turbines) ), CASA-1000 (Central Asia South Asia Regional Energy and Trade) energy project and the Pakistan Steel Mill and delivery of equipment produced by Power Machines. 

In case of Military and technical cooperation, Russia has given various levels of support in different sectors. High level visits have been done by Pakistani military officials towards Russia for increase military and defence cooperation especially air defence. 

- At what level is the policy of cooperation with Pakistan republics of the South Caucasus?

Azerbaijan and Pakistan are two brotherly Muslim countries with unique commonalities of historical, religious and political nature. The relation goes back to the time when both nations were part of Persian Empire. Pakistan recognized independence of Azerbaijan in 1991 (the second country after Turkey) and the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. Pakistan was one of the first countries to open its embassy in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. After the establishment of the formal diplomatic relations, there was no look back and the ties grew on steady pace. Both countries built deeper and closer brotherly bond which is strengthening and growing ever since till this time.  Leadership and people of both countries feel closer to each other. Ever since the first visit of the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif who visited Azerbaijani capital, Baku in 1995 and a reciprocal visit of Azerbaijan’s late President Heydar Aliyev in April 1996 to Pakistan, both countries have covered lots of ground in political and economic spheres. Both countries have supported each other in every international forum. Pakistan and the people of Pakistan can well understand and feel the pain of Azerbaijani people and sufferings of people of Nagorno-Karabakh because we are facing the bloodshed in Kashmir since the time of our inception in 1947. Azerbaijan supports Pakistan’s position on Kashmir issue and Pakistan supports Azerbaijan’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Pakistan is the only country in the world that has not yet recognized Armenia because of its aggression to the Azerbaijani people. This has also resulted in the successful development of relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. They have been established on the ground of friendly and fraternal principles. 

Frequent exchange of high level visits also reflects the significance that both states pose to each other. President of Pakistan Sardar Faruk Ahmad Khan Legari visited Azerbaijan in October 1995 and President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev paid an official visit to Pakistan in April 1996. In ECO Summit, 2000, in Tehran and 2002, in Istanbul, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan had a meeting and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries. During the visit of the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan to Pakistan in May 2001, the two countries had signed a Joint Statement in Islamabad agreeing to develop partnership by initiating institutionalized defense cooperation. This visit by defense delegation to Azerbaijan is expected to further widen the scope of defense cooperation between the two friendly countries.