Muhammad Asif Noor: New Spring in Pakistan-Russia Relations

Pakistan and Russia has witnessed various ups and downs in their diplomatic and political relations over since the emergence of Pakistan. If we can say that these relations are as old as the presence of British Empire in the subcontinent then we are being historic are viewing the terms in the lens of the old Great game. The relations are old 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”.

 

Six decades of Pakistan and Russia relations have observed various bumps and bruises but still both countries, out of odds, managed to develop a congeniality of relations after the dawn of 21st century and tumultuous events of 9/11. In the contemporary multipolar international political system where several world orders are contending to each other, Pakistan needs to revamp and reach out to improve and enhance cooperation with friendly countries like Russia. Nevertheless Pakistan’s presence and active alliance with western world order, relations with Soviet Union and later Russian Federation remained in luke warm waters. 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.

 

At the very inception of Pakistan, mangers and executors of the foreign policy were liberalism driven and had western tilt that resulted into the diversion of us toward West and US. This western ideological orientation was one of few more reason of tilting towards the west. If we look at history of relations established diplomatically in 1948 but Pakistan didn’t even have envoy to Soviet Capital till 1949. Soon after, the invitation from Russia was ignored as a result of this western minded elite and the then Prime Minister moved to Washington for his first official visit. Few years later, the much expected visit to Soviet Union was announced in 1949 that Liquat Ali Khan would visit in May 1950. It was delayed to an extent that a lot water of mistrust had been flowed under. This set the relations to a progress in a very cold environment till the time USSR disintegrated and Russian Federation emerged. Over the decades, the relations between both the countries lacked depth and dimension even having the strong possibilities of cooperation and collaboration. During the decade of Soviet invasion, the relations went to their lowest ebb and were at their worst stage ever in the history of connection. The U2 incident further aggravated the relations. It was mainly because of Soviet involvement in internal matters of Afghanistan and Indo-Soviet alliance, which Pakistan looked at it through suspicion.

 

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 analyst 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.

 

For Pakistan relations with Central Asian republics was and still is equally important because of the various cultural, political, religious, historical and economic reasons. For these states was even the soft belly of the Soviet Union and Strategic backyard of Russia pose significant foreign policy opportunity for Pakistan. Even though the Soviet Union ceased to exist, Russian Federation that stretches from Pacific to Baltic Sea still has a large significance in International political system. With recent years of strategic dialogue and extended cooperation of U.S towards India, it is in the interest of Pakistan that to discover, expand and explore new market and new partners in International system for its indigenous development. President Asif Ali Zardari paid an official visit to Russia in last May after almost three and half decades since last visit of Zulfiqar Ali Bhtto to Russia. The visit was significant in the emerging geopolitical milieu as it was aimed to extend the hands of cooperation to Russia and find a permanent space in the emerging strategic and economic grouping, Shengai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). If this dream of Pakistan becomes a reality then in few coming years, Pakistan would become hub of energy and transit trade in the region. In this multipolar world order, Russia stand out supreme in our foreign policy endeavors if we really want to have heavy weight status in the region.

 

It was freezing temperatures in Dushanbe in November 2010, when some warm feelings conveyed through words by the then Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin to his counterpart Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, during a meeting in the sidelines of SCO summit, thus melting the ice in the glacial relationships. This warmth is building up and is continued till now as newly elected President Vladmir Putin have agreed in March to visit Pakistan in September this year. The high level visits of such kinds have always been an edge in the relationships amongst the countries reflecting the highest priority one country gives to another. Recent visit of President Asif Ali Zardari was done in the back drop where we are having trouble in relations with United States. Recent visit of President Asif Ali Zardari was done in the back drop where we are having trouble in relations with United States. We have observed also that the relations are at the very lowest ebb in the whole history of relations. Once we been told rightly by one of the then Soviet Ambassador in Pakistan, Mikhail Kapitsa, that, “We support India and Afghanistan against you because they are our friends, even when they are in the wrong. But your friends do not support you, even when they know you are in the right”. He was right in referring our inclination towards and unreliable ally which has always posed and gave us a ditch. Pakistan and Russia vowed to join hands to fight terrorism, drug trafficking and enhance cooperation in various fields including energy and trade. With its vast technological and economic base, Russia needs far more attention from Pakistan and rightly so that President’s visit to the country is another step towards the direction. Russia as a distant neighbor is also revamping and reviewing its policy towards Pakistan. Although various MoUs had been signed but need of the time is that to materialize rather than leaving them only on papers.

 

Understanding of changing parameters of international, regional political and security environment, Pakistan must continue to have a thrust towards developing close relations with Russia and it must also work on raising it to much higher level. New phase has already marked to begin. Our interest lies in having pragmatic and diversified foreign policy with having close and cordial relations with all the major powers. Like Paul Kennedy has said “there is no expert on Russia, but varying degrees of ignorant” however for Pakistan it is necessary in the contemporary world politics not to remain ignorant especially in its relations with Russia.

 

Muhammad Asif Noor, Director Institute of Peace and Diplomacy.