‘Russian military relations with Pakistan very minimal’

‘Russian military relations with Pakistan very minimal’

Context:

•  Russia’s new Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev takes over at a tough time for bilateral ties.
• Nikolay Kudashev in an interview said that the priority for New Delhi and Moscow would be sealing several defence agreements this year.
• Bigger priority is young generation in contributing to our joint projects and bilateral relations, he said.
• Is India-Russia military cooperation keeping pace, given India’s move to diversify its hardware procurement?
• Both the countries expect the defence cooperation by signing of contractual obligations of anti-aircraft systems S-400, Ka-226T helicopters, and joint manufacture of frigates.
• The joint development and manufacture of the Sukhoi/HAL Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) is also on the agenda as is the supply of Mi-17 helicopters and upgrade of Mig-29 fighters.

On Afghanistan, is there any common ground between India and Russia today?

• Both India and Russia need a peaceful and democratic Afghanistan free from terrorism, crime and drug trafficking.

Why has Russia shifted its stand on not dealing with Pakistan in the past ?

• Nikolay said that “our relations with Pakistan in the military sphere are of a very minimum nature, and are strictly limited to anti-terrorism operations.
• He also said that Russia’s ties with Pakistan cannot be viewed as an attempt to change the regional strategic balance.