Pact with Russia widens Pak's options

Russia’s signing of a defence cooperation pact with Pakistan is reason for serious concern. It is with India that Moscow has a warm relationship going back many decades and that it is now joining hands with Islamabad on defence and security issues, is unfortunate.

Delhi is partly to blame. Its growing partnership with the US, especially since the 2006 signing of the civilian nuclear deal and mounting arms purchases from Washington caused unease in Moscow. Russia is said to have raised its concerns with India several times. It does seem that Delhi failed to assuage Moscow’s apprehensions adequately or perhaps did not take them seriously enough.

There were several warning signs in recent years, including a string of high-profile visits by Russian and Pakistani leaders and military officials to each other’s countries. In June this year, Russia lifted a decades-old embargo on arms sales to Pakistan, paving the way for sale of a batch of Mi-35 ‘Hind E’ heavy attack helicopters to that country. 

The defence cooperation pact could see more such deals in the coming years. Its details have not been revealed but it is a ‘milestone’ in Russo-Pakistan relations. It will pave the way for deeper interaction between the two militaries in the form of exchanges and exercises as well as weapons sales and counter-terrorism cooperation. Joint defence production is in the pipeline too. Importantly, the two sides are expected to work together on Afghanistan. 
For Pakistan, which already receives massive military and other aid from China and Pakistan, the defence pact with Russia opens up another option. This will reduce Islamabad’s dependence on the US and enhance its leverage and elbow-room. The defence agreement with Russia represents a major triumph for Pakistan’s diplomacy as it now has pacts with China, US and Russia in its pocket.

The Russo-Pakistan defence agreement is a reminder that Delhi cannot take its historic friendship with Moscow for granted. India and Russia share strategic concerns but misunderstandings have cropped up in recent years and these need to be cleared. India must draw Moscow’s attention to its problems with Russian military supplies. Shortage of spare parts, overpricing and delays in delivery, as with the Gorshkov deal, for instance, have marred defence cooperation between the two countries, forcing Delhi to look for other suppliers. In a few weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India for the 15th annual summit. The two countries must use this opportunity to resolve niggling problems. They must do more to revive their old friendship.