Pakistan-Russia relations

Director Regulatory Affairs & International Liaison Herbion International Incorp The formation and development of relations between the Russian Federation and Pakistan is based on the multiple interactions during almost 60 years.
The diplomatic relations between two countries were established in May 1948. Although there were no disputed issues between them, but their relations did not achieve due level of development because Pakistani foreign policy was clearly tilted towards US.
Nevertheless, in 1950 both the countries had exchanged ambassadors. That decade was marked by commencing and development of trade and economic relations between two countries. They had concluded several trade agreements and presented each other a status of the most favourable country. The Soviet cooperation in exploration of oil and gas fields in Pakistan had significant importance for our economy.
In 60's visits of the Pakistani President Ayub Khan and the Soviet Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin could not bring round both the countries on major political issues. But these visits played a significant role in strengthening of the economical ties between two countries. Pakistan and the Soviet Union signed an agreement on financing and executing the steel mill project in West Pakistan. An understanding was also reached regarding the setting up of an atomic power plant in East Pakistan. The Soviet Union offered assistance for establishing a radio-relay link between Pakistan and the USSR and beyond to Europe.
In the beginning of 70's critical political crisis in Pakistan resulted in creation of independent state - Bangladesh, brought to the peak tension in political relations between two countries, as Pakistani leadership considered the Soviet-Indian strategic partnership and an active Soviet support to India as one of the major reasons of separation of East Pakistan.
Mr Z. A. Bhutto's visits to the Soviet Union in 1972 and 1974 became very helpful in releasing mutual tension, caused by the Soviet support to the creation of Bangladesh, and for restoration of political and economical ties between two countries.
In 1972-1977 economical relations between Pakistan and the Soviet Union were significantly broaden. Besides, the Soviet assistance in oil and gas exploration, several power projects, including in Guddu and the construction of the heavy steel plant (I million ton steel per annum) near Karachi, built with the technical and economical help of the Soviet Union were of the great importance for economical development of Pakistan.
In 80's relations between two countries again became worse and economical cooperation hampered due to the Afghanistan conflict.
With the beginning of "Perestroika" and "Glasnost" the Soviet policy on Afghanistan had been changed radically. After that both countries made intensive combined efforts for political resolution of the afghan problem resulted in conclusion of Geneva agreements in 1988 followed then by the complete withdrawal of the Soviet armed forces from Afghanistan in 1989.
The normalisation of political situation and known coldness in relations with the USA due to the Pakistan's nuclear program urged Pakistan to reactivate economical and technical links with the Soviet Union. In the result the Soviet government agreed to render technical assistance in expansion of the Steel Mill capacity up to 3 million tons per annum with providing the credits for this purpose. The possibilities of such projects like exploration of ore and phosphate, oil and gas, the Soviet participation in development of power projects in Pakistan were also mutually considered.
After the disintegration of the Soviet Union Pakistan recognised Russian Federation on 20 December 1991 as successor of the Soviet Union and expressed its desire to establish relation with Russia in new conditions on the principles of mutual cooperation taking into account the national interests of both the countries, the necessity of establishing peace in the region and in the world. These intentions received warm support from Russian side.
In recent period mutual contacts and political interaction between the Pakistani and the Russian leadership continued both through the international forums and the bilateral dialogue.
The visit of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to Moscow in 2003 had set new dimensions so far as the Pak-Russia relations are concerned. Both the sides made a commitment to work assiduously for the promotion of trade and economic cooperation to big proportions. Some agreements in trade sector as well a handful of diplomatic and cultural accords were also signed. Both the leaders opposed the idea of a unipolar world. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin urged both Pakistan and India to resume dialogue for the solution to Kashmir problem. They agreed that the UN Security Council should play a central coordinating role in resolving international problems.
Since past few years, Pakistan and Russia have been engaged in pro-active diplomacy to improve the bilateral ties. For the first time in many years, there are clear signs of a marked improvement in Pakistan-Russia relations with the two countries forging a partnership that was perhaps never expected since the creation of Pakistan. Pakistan would like to see close and developing relations in the fields of education, culture, trade, economic, science, technology and telecommunications.
Pakistan has keen interest in expanding trade with Russia. As declared by the Pakistani government our basic policy toward the Russian Federation comprises to develop good friendly relations and expand co-operation in the economic and scientific cultural activities, to enhance interaction on major regional and global issues.
Pakistani companies and businessmen are making a very significant contribution to the expansion of trade between two countries and the Herbion Pakistan Private Limited can be distinguished among them as pioneer in export of herbal medicines to Russia, as well as other CIS countries. Company entered in the CIS market in 1996, and in the Russian market - in 2000.
During last seven years the Herbion has exported millions of packs of its quality medicines to Russia. Some of its products like Linkus Cough Syrup/Lozenges, Insty are among the leading brands of their segments and have become house hold products in Russia. Herbion intends to constantly increase its exports to Russia and its contribution in the growth of bilateral trade, as well in development of mutual cultural and economical relations between peoples of both the countries.
The warming of the Russia-Pakistan relations is already on its way. All people of good sense and good will in Pakistan and in the Russian Federation will feel good to see that there is not only a thaw but also a perceptible warming up in the relations between these two countries who are also neighbours for all practical purposes. We hope that mutual efforts of people of both the countries will usher in a new era of Pak-Russia relations which would continue to improve and strengthen. The people of Pakistan look forward to a full flowering of relations with the Russian Federation and its people.