Russia bids for South Asia
By Hamza Ameer
Many Russian companies are looking ahead towards increasing their existence in the Pakistani business market. This was addressed by the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, when he met with Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the 9th Shanghai Corporation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government Council (HGC) hosted by Tajikistan . Both parties agreed to enhance bilateral relations through increased trade and economic interaction in various fields.
Pakistan and Russia are allies in every sense of words Prime Minister Vladimir Putin maintained.
The meeting went far beyond the scheduled time of 30 minutes during which they covered a wide range of issues, including Pakistan s role in the war against terror, global economic recession and bilateral cooperation. Pakistan , which seeks more Russian role in the expansion of the Steel Mills, said it would welcome Russian entrepreneurs for investment.
Pakistan seeks a comprehensive partnership with Russia and is prepared to invest in developing mutually-beneficial relations between the two countries for the shared goals of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Despite the global recession, the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russia had improved and picked up over the last eight months. Prime Minister Gilani said.
Pakistan has proposed that Russia , Afghanistan , Tajikistan and Pakistan should initiate consultation on quadrilateral transit trade arrangement. Pakistan is keen to expand its trade ties with Russia and forecasts that the present volume of trade of $700 million, could be enhanced to $1 billion by increasing market access to Pakistani products in Russia .
Adding to more business probabilities for Russia in Pakistan , there has been a renewed interest in Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan India (TAPI) gas pipeline. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in Oil and Gas between the two countries was inked on November 19th, 2010 in Moscow by Pakistani Minister of Petroleum, Syed Naveed Qamar.
We welcome the interest of GAZPROM and its subsidiaries in participating in Iran-Pakistan and TAPI gas lines projects. Pakistan hopes that the Russian leadership and government will endorse this participation and encourage the Russian companies to take part in these projects. Pakistani Minister said.
Under the contract, Russian companies will be able to search for oil deposits and construct gas and oil pipelines in Pakistan , Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian president, said.
Pakistan has also proposed Russia to consider signing another MoU on Defence collaboration, to increase cooperation in this field also. Pakistan has expressed its interest in the purchase of MI-35 attack gunship helicopters to fight terrorism.
Along with India , Iran and Mongolia , Pakistan has an observer status in the Russia-China-led Central Asian group and is lobbying for full membership. With growing New Delhi relations with Washington, Russia is pushing for closer ties with Islamabad and unlike US President Barack Obama, the Russian leaders have refrained from criticizing Pakistan for any slackness in anti-terror combat. Quadripartite Russia-Pakistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan summits have acquired a regular feature as part of Moscow s efforts to work for a new security calculus after the eventual withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan .
Relationship between Pakistan and the former Soviet Union followed an model that hovered between cordial and hostile. But as time passed, both countries realized the need for sustained bilateral relations, and both worked in that direction through exchange of visits at the highest level that concluded with the promises for mutual cooperation and collaboration. One reason why Pakistan and Russia couldnt come under sound relations was the Indo-Soviet and Pak-US alliances that proved to be the stumbling block.
Pakistan s felt threatened from close Indo-Soviet military and economic ties, Soviet support to India on Kashmir dispute and an aggressive Indian posture. This drove Pakistan into seeking US protection and military assistance and led it to join American sponsored defense pacts SEATO and CENTO.
SEATO ( Southeast Asia Treaty Organization):
SEATO was planned to be a Southeast Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), in which the military forces of each member would be coordinated to provide for the collective defense of the members country. SEATO did use portions of the military forces of its members in annual joint training maneuvers.
Pakistan was included not only because East Pakistan (now Bangladesh ) was geographically close to Southeast Asia, but possibly because Pakistan was a member of the pro-Western Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) alliance. Thus the pro-Western, anti-communist military alliances of the Mid-east and Southeast Asia were linked by the membership of Pakistan in both.
Central Treaty Organization (CENTO):
CENTO committed the nations to mutual cooperation and protection, as well as non-intervention in each others affairs. Its goal was to contain the Soviet Union (USSR) by having a line of strong states along the USSR s southwestern frontier. Similarly, it was known as the Northern Tier to prevent Soviet expansion into the Middle East . The United Kingdom had access to facilities in Pakistan and Iraq at various times while the treaty was in effect.
Russia is expected to assume a proactive role in relation to Afghanistan when the Americans and NATO forces leave. There has also been a shift in the Pakistan s security situation. It is no more entirely dependent on the US for its defense needs. It enjoys a nuclear-based security environment that has neutralized the Indian threat and is rapidly moving towards self sufficiency in the production of conventional defense equipment. Although this gives Pakistan enough room to maneuver in the area of foreign and defense policy, its poor economic performance keeps it dependent on US economic assistance.
Pakistan looks forward to make its presence stronger in Afghanistan with increased relations with Russia and China . Pakistan also looks forward to decrease its dependency on the United States , in its major developing fields or economy and technological infrastructure.
Looking ahead to the future, it can be predicted that Russia, China and Pakistan are teaming up, to gain power, not only in the region but also strengthen their economical positions by taking control of major revenue generating prospects like Oil and Gas.
Russia bids for South Asia