Tazeen Akhtar
President of Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin is set to visit Pakistan in 2027. He will attend the Summit of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO in Islamabad. This is another feather in the cap of Pakistan after hosting the Summit of Heads of Governments last year. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to Moscow soon. Both sides are making arrangements for this visit at the earliest.
Pakistan last hosted the SCO in 2024 for the Council of Heads of Government Summit, where PM Shehbaz called for investing in the region’s collective capacity for connectivity. As per the Tainjin Summit Declaration, the next meeting of the SCO Heads of Member States was supposed to be held in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2026. Pakistan’s turn was supposed to come in 2027, that is unless Kyrgyzstan has surrendered its turn to host the meeting.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shared the information during his media talk at a ceremony in Islamabad. He has directed the concerned authorities to prepare two more five star hotels in the capital city to accommodate the guests participating in Heads of State Summit.
Here it is worth mentioning that the visit of President Putin is due since long. Earlier he announced to visit in 2010 during the gov of PPP when Asif Ali Zardari was President and Yousuf Raza Gilani was Prime Minister.
The visit was postponed / cancelled later and it created the impression that Mr. Putin has done it on India pressure. Resultantly, it created a stalemate in Pak Russia relations. No Pakistani guest from the government attended the following Russian National Day celebration in Islamabad.
President Putin’s recent visit to India raised concerns in Pakistan regarding a big arms agreement. The Indian media had described this visit as a ‘rain of defense deals’, and there was a strong impression in India that major defense deals would be finalized, including the purchase of additional units of S-400, S-500 defense system, and the latest Russian fighter jet Sukhoi 57.
Similarly, a deal worth nearly $2 billion for the new version of BrahMos and a nuclear submarine was also considered almost certain. However, no defense deal was made, and no MoU was signed. Despite no signing or announcement surfaced, it is still apprehended that a verbal deal may have been struck between the two leaders.
The Russian side understands the concerns of Pakistani side on the visit of President Putin to rival country India. A source shared in this regard that President Putin visited India or as this scribe mentioned North Korea and Vietnam in his previous article, only when landmark treaties or multimillion dollar trade deals are finalized.
“When the time comes and Russia and Pakistan come close to signing landmark agreements (in trade, humanitarian, political or any other sphere), President will come to Pakistan, the source added.
Pakistan Russia relations are most of the time seen in light of Russia Ukraine as well. Pakistan kept away from the conflict, advocating for a peaceful resolution of the dispute through diplomatic means. Russian side respects Pakistani stance and considers it wise as Pakistan had bitter experiences by siding with USA in Afghanistan.
While Ukraine questions ” How many weapons Russia sold to India and how many to Pakistan? Moreover, Ukraine remained a close partner of Pakistan in defence production and supplies. Therefore, Ukraine expects Pakistan to stand on the right side rather take a neutral stance.”
Russia Pakistan agreed on cheap petroleum deal during the government of Imran Khan who was present at Kremlin with President Putin on the eve of 22 Feb 2023 when Russia Ukraine war started. Later, the gov of PDM including the incumbent rulers PMLN PPP , continued the deal and stated it good for Pakistan.
Unfortunately, the move failed after the first only shipment touched Pakistani shores. It costed too much to , first shift the oil into the refinery and second it was not chemically viable for Pakistani refineries to refine for end user.
While Indian trade with Russia increased suddenly from USD 10 Billion to 69 soon after Russia Ukraine War. Now it is agreed to take it to USD 100 Billion that means more cheap oil from Russia to India.
Deep in the past, Russia agreed to construct North South gas pipeline in Pakistan with the then estimate of USD 01 Billion. This deal also could not see any further development. Russian side needs to see these matters as well while assuring Pakistanis that relations with India and Pakistan are on equal basis.
