After the Rann of Kutch incident in May 1965, the US had suspended all military and economic aid both to India and to Pakistan. In July 1965, the Soviet Union offered economic and other assistance to Pakistan, in an endeavour to entice Pakistan away from its dependence on the US and on China.
In November 1965, in preparation for the Pakistan Foreign Ministers delegation to Moscow to prepare for the later discussions at Tashkent, Pak NHQ put in a requirement for six submarines, eight missile boats, twelve motor torpedo boats, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, mines and torpedoes.
In June 1966, a Pakistan naval delegation visited the Soviet naval bases in Odessa and Sevastopol in the Black Sea. They were shown a submarine, an anti submarine vessel, a missile boat, a Landing Ship Tank (LST) and a motor torpedo boat. Neither mines nor maritime reconnaissance aircraft were offered or shown.
In May 1968, a two ship Soviet naval squadron visited Karachi. It was the first ever visit of Soviet warships to Pakistan. Discussions centred on the Soviet side being able to help modernise the ships of the Pakistan fleet. The Pakistan Government also formally requested for a feasibly study of fitting Soviet surface to surface missile on the Pakistan Navy's destroyers.