Abstrict

Numerous ups and down has been observed in the relations between Pakistan and Russia. Their history is full of having virtuous associations as well as bitter memories among themselves. Russia is economically developed and a strong resource country, while Pakistan is still struggling hard to cover the success staircase. However, upright associations between Russia and Pakistan can open a window of mutual benefits for Pakistan as well as for Russia. Russia is self-sufficient in energy resources such as oil and gas, while Pakistan is an energy deficit country. Therefore, after smoothing the internal relations between Pakistan and Russia, a milestone can be covered exporting the Russian gas and oil to Pakistan. Pakistan is sanctified with the globally excellent military power, and Russia can learn a lot to eliminate terrorism and other relating dangers. Therefore, good sort of associations between Russia and Pakistan can revolutionize the regional politics of both countries.

Keywords

Foreign Policy, Military, Pakistan Russia Relation, Regional Politics, Socio-Economic

Introduction

Every state prioritizes its regional benefits over the enmity with the other countries. Russia, being the factually rival of Pakistan, is finding the companionship track based on the same phenomenon (Hanif, 2013; Khan, 2018; Shahid and Kralli, 2020). Russia is embellished with the veto supremacy coupled with resilient socio-economic eminence and thus, Pakistan, keeping in view the substantial background of Russia wants to formulate friendly relations with Russia. Similarly, the president of Russia is also pugnacious for developing the international relations along with political associations on revitalization and enlivening basis that can be prolific for the accomplishment of Russia (Naqvi and Masood, 2017). Moreover, it is the utmost requirement of Russia to develop positive relations with the global world for the well-being and sustainability of the state (Hussain, 2012; Naqvi and Masood, 2017). While considering the historical relations of both countries, it comes forward in a despondent way that welcoming associations of Russia with India and Pakistan with the U.S had brought both countries (Russia and Pakistan) at opposite poles (Kalim et al., 2012; Rekha, 2014; Roy and Dalei, 2020). As India is the notable competitor of Pakistan and U.S is the rudimentary rival of Russia. Therefore, discrepancy for communal reliance resulted in acrimonious memories between Russia and Pakistan from 1991 to 2003. After, 2003, Russia struggled hard to smoothen their relations with Pakistan by the preparatory association in the field of military coupled with the economy (Sultana et al., 2019). However, Russia is still afraid for abolishing its relationship with India by offering a friendly hand to Pakistan due to considering India, Russia’s one of the most economical sharing partner (Thoker, and Singh, 2017; Zia, 2018).

Russia established its friendly relations in the very start of the creation of Pakistan (1st May 1948), and it could become the strongest bond between both countries if there would remain the positive collaborations between the mentioned states (Owais, 2007; Tauhidi, 2018). However, with time both countries created unavoidable concerns between them, later on, that extended up-to many folds and distortion of Pakistan and Russian relations occurred. There remained various ups and downs for depicting the clear picture of Pakistan and Russia associations (Purushothaman, 2015). In the very start, Pakistan and Russia relished with the benefitting relations and hoped to extend their bond till many upcoming years. However, soon after the involvement of U.S, Russia and Pakistan reached opposite poles and it became worst when India sophisticatedly extended their associations with Russia and acted as the dismaying foe of Pakistan (Khan, 2018; Jahangir, 2019). 

After the conflict of 1965 between Pakistan and India, Russia rejoined their relishing collaboration with Pakistan (Blank, 1995; Khan and Altaf, 2013; Ahmed, 2017). After this unforgettable incident, Russia assured Pakistan for every type of supportive association in every walk of life (Belokrenitsky, 1995; Chaudhari, 2020). However, just after 5 to 6 years, the downfall of Russia and Pakistan relations were observed again due to Pakistani support towards the Taliban with the unrevealing impairing support of U.S towards Pakistan. In that era, Pakistan destroyed the socio-economic set up of Russia by exploiting the armed helicopters of Russia that were being used against the Taliban (Velikaya, 2019; Wolf, 2020). Therefore, many miss-happenings, including Russia occupied Afghanistan, Pakistan imposed sanctions over the collaborations with Russia and supported the U.S and other linked countries (Altaf, 2019; Kumar, 2019). Ultimately, misrepresentation of Russia and Pakistan associations endured prevailing for a long duration of time. However, then again, turnover was observed in the relations of various countries keeping in view the national and international concerns of countries (Farwa, 2019; Panda and Bose, 2020). Therefore, by realizing the fact, Russia and Pakistan are struggling hard to polish their relations and create harmony in various fields of life. 

Pak Russia Relations from 1991 to 2008

An Ancient Outlook

There remained clandestine combat between Russia and Pakistan from the very start. The major reason behind this phenomenon was the friendly associations of Pakistan with U.S. U.S stands at the top of the list of Russia’s foes, for that reason, Russia remained at arm’s length from Pakistan (Azizian and Vasilieff, 2003; Kaushiki, 2019). Furthermore, Pakistan provided substantial support to the inhabitants of Afghanistan that were known as Taliban, and this thing lit the further fire over the bitter relations between Russia and Pakistan (Mohapatra, 2013; Pant, 2017). Contrary to this, Khan, (2016) stated that before 1991, there remained momentarily good relations between Russia and Pakistan and both countries joined hands for the welfare of their dwellers including education, edification, line of work, import-export and many other social as well as economic areas of life. However, this harmony existed for a short duration of time, such as from 1947 to 1969 (Abbas, 2016; Kaura, 2018). On the whole, both countries are living as the enemies of each other due to difference in their point of views for regional as well as international politics and national security rules (Khalid and Roy, 2016; Katrandzhiev, 2019). Nonetheless, there is still no apparent dispute between both countries; rather, they have deleterious associations with each other by just prioritizing their national economic and social development.

The U.S always played at the backend of Pakistan and used Pakistan for its various destructive lines of attack. For example, after the cold war in Afghanistan, its admonished Pakistan to act as the refuge house for the inhabitants of Afghanistan and, later on, blamed Pakistan for the inefficiency of U.S military to accomplish their task (Lansford, 2017; Mielke, 2019). Furthermore, they declared Pakistan as the helping hand of terrorists and thus, clogged the American aid for Pakistan community. However, this unacceptable deed of U.S urged Pakistan to shorten its relations with the U.S and require Russia’s support to grow the economic eminence (Wriggins, 1984; Hilali, 2017).  Similarly, U.S extended its associations towards India after betraying Pakistan and created the food for thought for Russia government to smoothen its relation with Pakistan (Kux, 2001; Jabeen and Mazhar, 2011). Therefore, both countries Russia and Pakistan are in utmost need of each other to grow and prosper in every walk of life. Akram, (2016) is of the view that after realizing the need of hour both states are struggling hard to explore the way of friendship among Russia and Pakistan and for this purpose, the president of Russia named as Putin invited the president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf to come to Russia. Pervez Musharraf, not only accepted the warm solicitation of Putin but also spread of the wave of healthier associations with the Russian government. 

The Logic Behind Resilient Associations Between Russia and Pakistan

Russia and India are enjoying their conglomerate for more than 6 decades, and it is hoped that their partnership will sustain for a further long duration of time. Pakistan, being social state never objected for Russia and India relations, however, being energy arrears country, Pakistan desires positive relations with the countries that are energy enriched countries such as Russia (Hussain and Sangay, 2012; Bilgin, 2016; Khalid, 2018). Russia is standing at the top of the list and is well known for having prevailing headship for oil and gas export. Therefore, after settling the internal concerns, Russia can act proficient role for accepting Pakistan as the employing country for the export of oil and gas as well as engaging the later state into various other fields of work (Feng, 2015; Davison, 2017). In the present epoch, it has become mandatory for different states and countries to shake hands with each other that have mutual reimbursements for each other. Following this principle, Pakistan and Russia are trying hard to become the helping hands for each other by taking initiation from harmony and armistice in every junction of Afghanistan (Vousinas, 2014; Shah and Parveen, 2016). After the visit of Pakistani president to Russia, a lot of good vibes were observed in both countries as both heads of states signed various documents having the proximal approaches for the welfare and prosperity of Pakistani as well as Russian community (Akram, 2016; Siddiqi, 2017). Moreover, both frontrunners devised innumerable policies for the security and development of socio-economic as well as political sectors of the states. Also, they realized that after the settlement of all the internal issues both countries should extend their arms to offer the friendly environment to each other that is the sole solution for countless disputes prevailing in both states (Mumtaz et al., 2018; Dar, 2019). Same is the reason that the U.S is smoothing its national and international relations with India as well as with China. Therefore, it is the utmost need of the hour that Russia and Pakistan may also forget their concerns by having the friendly background of India and U.S, respectively in their minds and create good associations that would become supportive for the success and development of Russia and Pakistan. 

Reasons for Re-Establishing the Good Relations Between Russia and Pakistan

Collaboration between India and U.S

Primakov in 1998, being the Russian PM, devised a documented proposal for establishing the good sort of relations between India, China and Russia to combat the deleterious strategies of U. S (Kennedy, 2017; Ladwig and Mukherjee, 2019). However, India, the notable opponent of Pakistan, became doubtful about the plans of Russia against U.S. Furthermore, it was obvious that India acts as an open market for the export of Russian commodities and if India showed any sort of disagreement regarding the triangular strategies of Russia, China and India, Russia would sojourn its export in India (Rajagopalan, 2016; Chaurasia et al., 2018). However, support of the U.S for India intimidated India to show the insurgence with Russia. Similarly, by realizing the bitter reality of India’s policy-change urged Russia to include Pakistan in their collaborating countries (Albinsson et al., 2019). Also, Khan (2016) stated that the president of Russia (Putin) struggled hard to turn back India from devising responsive strategies with the U.S. Nevertheless, after not finding any positive response from India, Russia rescheduled its approach for considering the new countries in the list of their supportive states and included the name of Pakistan as well (Nasir Khan and Siddiqui, 2019; Madan, 2020). On the other hand, U.S offered the welcoming attitude towards India that is well known for being the rival of Pakistan. Therefore, U.S restricted its proximal privileges from Pakistan and diverted towards India, and this thing admonished Pakistan to think and struggle hard for smoothening its relation with Russia. Thus, keeping in view the despondent condition and socio-economic status of Pakistan, it became inevitable to establish the resilient and consistent collaborations with Russia.

Afghanistan is the rudimentary state for creating the patch between Russia and Pakistan. Pakistan has worked hard to support the western powers, more specifically to the U.S against the insecure environment prevailing all over Afghanistan (Azizi, 2019; Lyall et al., 2020). However, the U.S has tried to create intimidation for Pakistan as well as held responsible for failure the operation against terrorists (Saroha, 2019; Terpstra, 2020). The U.S has claimed that Pakistan is acting as the safety net for the Taliban and other terrorists and provoking them to spread the terror all over the world. This statement by U.S government coerced the Pakistani authority to reconsider their policies and relations with the other countries such as the U.S (Akhtar, 2019; Hauner, 2019).  On the other hand, Russia realized that it is unmanageable to get complete hold over Afghanistan and creating harmony in Islamic states. However, if they may get fame for creating the stability in the circumstances of Afghanistan, it will prove beneficial for the socio-economic as well as the political status of Russia (Ali et al., 2019; Chandio And Khuhro, 2019). Furthermore, Russia declared that this stability is impossible without the proper support by Pakistan. For this purpose, they have declared the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (notable province of Pakistan) as the Islamic Headquarter (Iqbal, 2019; Zakharov, 2019). Also, they are of the view that Pakistan can play an important role to bring to an end the terrorist attacks by Afghanistan. Thus, Russia offered an open window for creating collaboration with Pakistan in different fields of life, including political, defence and security (Baiza, 2017). Furthermore, Pakistan has been acknowledged for creating and maintaining the peace and harmony in Afghanistan that will become supportive for maintaining the peace in other countries related to them. Therefore, it has become inescapable to create friendly associations between Russia and Pakistan on a sustainable basis. 

Geological Importance of Pakistan

Russia is enriched with energy sources such as gas and oil and remained to export in bulk to the western world. However, with time, Russia realized that they are spending too much money for getting permission to export their energy resources into the western markets that ultimately reduce the price of oil and gas. Therefore, Russia devised pretty good changes into its exporting policies and decided to create a market shift from the west towards the eastern world. In this regard, Russia is highly pugnacious to make Pakistan as part of its eastern market. To consider Pakistan as the new market place for Russia is highly important due to the beauties of the geological status of Pakistan (Javed and Ahmed, 2016; Yaseen et al., 2019). Pakistan is in the middle of the eastern world and highly energy-demanding country. Moreover, Pakistan is a source of peace and harmony for Russia by providing support to resolve the Afghanistan issue (Khan, 2018; Ispahani, 2019). Furthermore, Pakistan provides an open route to Russia for trading the goods through the Arabian Sea. In consequence, the accomplishment of good relations between Russia and Pakistan is highly significant and in favor of the economic conditions of both countries. Besides, Korybko, (2015) enlightened the fact that although Pakistan is in dire need to establish the good relations with Russia to combat the issues due to being developing coupled energy deficit country highly, Russia is also in favor of re-relishing the positive associations with Pakistan due to significant geographical status of Pakistan. 

Soldierly Associations

Pakistan has been declared as the house of terrorists and has heartbroken rumours all around theglobe.

 The major reason behind this worse recognition is the false statements of the U.S government against Pakistan. In the present era, Pakistan is well known as the land of terrorists. However, the army of Pakistan is working hard to clean out this stain from the flag of Pakistan (Thakur, 2018; Kalim and Janjua, 2019). Pakistan military is paying with their blood to wipe out the dirt of terrorism not only from Pakistan rather from the borders of Afghanistan as well. According to Roy, (2016), the Pakistan military has performed approximately 251 leading while 735 minor maneuvers to eliminate the terrorism as well as all the other threats related to it. However, U.S has always applied objection over the hardiest efforts of Pakistan to eliminate the terrorism while Russia has always appreciated the overwhelming struggle of Pakistan military to abolish the dangers of terrorism from every corner of the country (Barnes, 2016). Moreover, Russia has highlighted Pakistan’s effort to create peace and harmony in Afghanistan and credited to do prominent act (Usman, 2018; Shafqat, 2019). Also, Russia has announced that after creating the good relations with Pakistan, they would request the Pakistani authorities to permit the Russia government to learn and discuss the dangers of terrorism that are happening in various parts of Russia (Masood, 2008; Feyyaz, 2016). Furthermore, Russia has enlightened that Pakistan is blessed with experienced and talented soldiers that are the real assets of Pakistan to accomplish the victory in every walk of life and thus, Russia wants to invite some of the Pakistani soldiers into Russia to learn from the experiences of Pakistani troops and devise proper plans to combat the terrorism and other risks related to it.  




Effect on Regional Politics 

Moscow, one of the biggest cities of Russia, is included in the top list of the economically developed cities world over. After good associations between Russia and Pakistan, it can bring positive vibes both in Pakistan as well as in Russia in the economy coupled with political fields of work (Baev, 2015; Churkina and Zaverskiy, 2016). Russia has various countries that are well known for having trade and political attributes between Russia and other countries. However, Russia is still in need of some eastern countries to do the development in political aspects. Furthermore, Russia wants to make some necessary changes in the political policies of its national as well as international regions (Trenin, 2016; Kozhanov, 2018). Similarly, Pakistan, being economically weak, needs the support of some politically as well as socioeconomically strong country such as Russia. In the past, Russia and Pakistan were having good terms between them; however, due to poor political stabilities, they became the victims of many political challenges created by other countries (Owais, 2007; Stepanova, 2016). Pakistan and Russia were well known for exporting and exchanging the commodities related to oil, gas, leather and cotton that were used to grow the economic status of Pakistan as well as Russia. However, these types of good associations persisted till 1999 due to poor political policies. Moreover, Nawaz (2019) is of the view that by realizing the flaws of both Russian and Pakistani politics, they devised new strategies to prolong their collaboration on a sustainable basis. For this purpose, the head of both states signed the first agreement of collaboration in 2002 and opened the window for many virtuous approaches in the near future. Also, by developing strong political approaches, both countries concocted the positive progress in the regional politics of Russia and Pakistan. It is well reported that stability in the relations of Russia and Pakistan, will bring the revolutions in regional politics that become beneficent in the fields of defence, security and another military as well as common subject matters. 

Shanghai Cooperation Organization is also known as SCO is another achievement for Pakistan by endorsing the virtuous associations with Russia (Qadir and Rehman, 2016). SCO is the collaboration between Russia, Pakistan and China that have remarkable significance for removing the extremism, terrorism, violence and assassination in all the above-mentioned countries (Jaffer, 2016; Czerewacz-Filipowicz, 2017). History of China and Pakistan is clear enough for supporting each other in every walk of life. Therefore, China provided the open support to Pakistan for making her the part of SCO, and it is unmanageable devoid of the sustenance of Russia (Ahmed, 2016). Therefore, upright associations between Russia and Pakistan have notable significance over the regional politics of Pakistan. Just because of these proximal approaches, India, the foremost, a rival of Pakistan came to Pakistan to attend the meetings related to the strong political status of all-region and security attributes of national as well as international fields (Singh and Singh, 2019). 

Conclusion

Every country is struggling hard to make vigorous relations with the countries that are beneficial for the socio-economic as well as the political stability of the state. Therefore, all the countries that were rivals of each other in the past are becoming supporters of each other. Russia and Pakistan are important countries. Russia is rich in energy resources such as oil and gas, while Pakistan is an energy scarce country. Therefore, all the past concerns must be resolved between the two countries to develop new political stability among the states that will be significantly important for the success and development of both countries. Russia and Pakistan were away from the benefices of each other due to interference of India, and U.S. India is the historic rival of Pakistan but was in good terms with Russia. Similarly, the U.S was having bitter memories with Russia while virtuous associations with Pakistan. However, in recent past, U.S and India started collaborating by altering the past policies and Russia and Pakistan also started rejuvenating the new relations with each other that are constructive for regional politics as the well socio-economic status of both countries. However, it is still needed for an hour to sustain these virtuous associations along with initiating some more proximal collaboration that may revolutionize the status of both countries. 

References