This assumption is a part of the past. Everyone, including the Chinese are also looking at a 200 million people lucrative market called Pakistan (6th largest populated country with above average IQ, just like India, China, etc BUT with 50% population as youth, below 25 years old).
As soon as the Pakistanis restore stability and peace, you'll see almost all major industrial countries jumping on the opportunity to invest and do business with one of the faster growing economies over the next 20-30 years. The Russians are smart, they know they can get $ 5-10 Billion a year worth of defense business from Pakistan (once the growth starts in about 3 years). They know that they need to jump on the ship while Pakistan is in the hour of need, so to establish good will. The trade relationship between Pakistan and Russia will have surpassed $ 10-15 billion annually by 2025.
Pakistan will soon become a country where there is significant profit in pretty much every industrial area. Unlike China and India, where cost of labor and living have gone way up, reducing profit margins, the Pakistani market offers super high profitability for the next 20 years to come as its just starting out.
Welcome to a to-be-soon peaceful and modern country called Pakistan, strategically located in the middle of 50% of the global population, connected through road (soon), railways (soon), ships and airways (a normal 2-8 hour long flight between the entire Asia, Europe and the ME) and where there is business opportunity in almost every industry. Just 3 peaceful years and a LOT of tables will turn towards Pakistan.