Viewpoint from Pakistan: Russia is a necessity for regional peace

Traditionally, Russia has been viewed as somewhat of a dark, totalitarian country which is always searching for means to take over the world through its powerful military. This perception is certainly flawed, but those who adhere to such a view are not at fault. This negative projection of Russia can be accredited to Hollywood In specific and the Western media in general.

 

For Pakistanis, Russia is still a powerful Great Bear, if not a super-powerful Great Red Bear which it once was during the Soviet era. It was perceived as Pakistan’s enemy number one during the Afghan War which the ISI had planned with its counterparts in the CIA and Saudi intelligence. But Russia was never an enemy for Pakistan; rather, it was only the former USSR’s state ideology, Soviet Communism, which was a major point of security concern for Pakistan; the latter was already head over heels with a hostile India to the east and an increasingly hostile Communist Afghanistan in the west. Therefore, Pakistan’s alliance with the US at the time was purely for national interest and regional stability.

 

After the grim confrontation in the 80s, the final decade of the 20th century saw variable relationships between Pakistan and Russia. It is safe to say most of them did not transform into anything worthwhile or long-lasting. The possibilities of a strategic relationship were farfetched because Pakistan has always relied on the US for economic and military aid. Furthermore, Russia was never willing to compromise on its excellent ties with India, as it needed a reliable partner in the Indian Ocean.

 

With time, Pakistan has come to senses and has realized that being an ally of the US has brought with it tremendous blowbacks, sufferings and shame. Anti-Americanism is at its peak in Pakistan, among the ordinary people. The military and Foreign Office has had enough of being the laughing stock of world diplomacy. On the one hand, the US labels Pakistan as “an ally”, and on the other, the same benefactor has left no stone unturned in destabilizing the country and making it a target for ridicule by the global media. These reasons, plus more, were the basis for holding the first ever Pak-Russia strategic dialogue in August 2013, a monumental achievement in itself . (1)

 

I would like to bring attention to the crisis in Syria. It is indeed an issue of global importance on which Pakistan and Russia appear to be on the same page. The Middle Eastern state is considered to be a key Kremlin ally in the Mediterranean, both economically and strategically. Pakistan has already voiced strong opposition to any war on Syria because it is well aware of the massive ramifications it could yield back home. In Pakistan, there is a growing sectarian unrest between the Sunni and Wahhabi camps on one side versus the Shiites, with the former generally supporting Al Qaeda militants who are bent on Bashar al-Assad’s ouster and the latter pledging full support to avert any such move.

 

Syrian authorities reported that a sizeable chunk of Al Qaeda fighters reached from Russia’s Dagestan and Chechnya. Similarly, members of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist faction with allegiance to Al Qaeda, have been fighting against the Syrian regime also. Some even managed to return home in tribal areas with improvised war experience and fighting tactics.

 

What is of rightful concern to Russia, is that these fighters could pose a security threat to the Caucasus region and most notably to the Winter Olympics due to be held at Sochi, Russia in Febuary 2014 (2) . Pakistan is also concerned because a war on Syria could trigger a sectarian showdown across the country. Irani and Saudi proxies in the country have been pumping millions into their respective ideological groups, using Pakistan as a playground for their covert wars.

 

In the recent past, we have seen that Pakistan and Russia held talks on security cooperation, especially against groups in the North Caucasus and Pakistan which could be inter-connected through ties with the global Al Qaeda (3). There must be concerted efforts between Moscow and Islamabad to tackle this core issue and find out the origin of these militant organizations. Patterns show that these terrorist organizations have indirectly provided justifications for US military interventions around the world. A panacea for Russian and Pakistani security woes is the demolition of Al Qaeda and all its umbrella organizations that have been threatening peace and stability in Asia. Russia’s ally, India, wrongly believes that terrorism in the region is caused by Pakistan-based groups only. It is an entire network spread across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Europe and South Asia. In fact, Russian fighters have also been fighting against Pakistani security forces in Waziristan (4). But Pakistan has never blamed or labeled Russia as a terror-sponsoring state because it knows well the Russian federation itself faces threats from these groups.

 

What I am trying to emphasize on, is that Pakistan and Russia should join hands together to participate with other regional stakeholders (China and India) in creating an Asian security model against all forms of terrorism. Mr. Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, rightfully noted that “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) would benefit if countries such as India and Pakistan joined it” (5).

 

If what is expected truly materializes, Asia can be guaranteed of better stability, security and progress. And in all these coordinated efforts, to act as a point of liaison between archrivals India and Pakistan, Russia could well play its useful part.

 

For Pakistan, Russia has been playing a very mature role in the UN Security Council. It expected its strategic friend China to veto a military strike option on Syria but seeing Russia do the same was a surprising yet welcome sight.

 

Then there is also the issue of Afghanistan: American and allied forces are scheduled to withdraw beginning from 2014, or at least that is what has been publicly reported. Pakistan and Russia will once again be turning eyes towards each other once ISAF-NATO have completely left the war-torn country. Both will have to sit down and determine the future of the region based on implications for their respective domestic security and the neighboring region. India will never give up on its quest to be a stakeholder in Afghan affairs but I believe the Russians realize this well that without Pakistan, there is no definitive peace in the region. The wide range of issues connected to Afghanistan which Pakistan and Russia have started to discuss, include the drug trade (narcotics), terrorism and ISAF-NATO supply-routes (logistics). Pakistan too, on its part, has come to understand that although it is wise to keep India well at bay from Afghan affairs post withdrawal, Russia is at no cost to be kept out of the loop while determining the fate of the region. (6)

 

Russian Col Gen Vladimir V. Chirkin, C-in-C Russia with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Head Quarters, Rawalpindi (August 5, 2008) Image source: ISPR

 

Undoubtedly, Russia has a very important role to play in regional peace and security. At no stage whatsoever can this importance be undermined or ignored. Pakistan sees Russia as an ‘elder brother’. Its distasteful experiences with the US in the past compelled it to adopt a ‘Look East’ policy. With China already a reliable friend and partner, Pakistan looks towards Russia with high hopes and expectations, including a willingness to bury the past and focus on the present needs of time. Asia as a whole is under a looming security threat from Western i.e. American and European forces. The US has declared the Asia Pacific region as its “strategic pivot” (7) and India as its “key ally” (8). Russia has increased its naval fleet presence in the Mediterranean but then who will it partner for this counter-balance in Asia, now that the US has bagged India on its side? Will Russia consider approaching Pakistan to decide on mutually-beneficial objectives?

 

As of yet, both sides are equally hesitant on making any long-term relationships; at least publicly.  

 

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1. http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-russia-strategic-dialogue-/25089136.html

 

2. http://www.jpost.com/International/Russia-fears-fighters-waging-jihad-in-Syria-could-bring-terror-to-Caucasus-331706

 

3. http://www.dawn.com/news/601186/pakistan-russia-in-talks-on-militancy-nuclear-proliferation

 

4. http://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/a-message-from-russian-muslims-fighting-in-waziristan.pdf

 

5. http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_10_02/Russia-wants-India-Pakistan-to-be-in-Shanghai-Cooperation-Organization-Lavrov-1712/

 

6. http://tribune.com.pk/story/587112/pak-russia-army-chiefs-discuss-us-exit-in-afghanistan/

 

7. http://www.foreignpolicyi.org/content/obama-administrations-pivot-asia

 

8. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-23/india/40146616_1_india-and-pakistan-us-rebalance-india-us