Karachi: Experts on Friday played down the US and Europe’s anger over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia on the eve of its invasion of Ukraine, saying that Pakistan’s overture to Moscow should be seen as nod to the aggression against Kiev.
Replying to an question during a webinar on “The Rise of Russia in Global Politics: A View from Pakistan”, which Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) organized, experts from academic and diplomatic circles rejected the western concerns over Imran Khan’s recent meeting with Russian President, Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
They said that Pakistan’s overture to Moscow was aimed to improve its bilateral ties with Russia and never meant to show a support to war in Ukraine, which angered the US and Europe. Pakistan stands neutral to this particular war, they said
They said that Pakistan does have its good relations with the US and seeks to boost its ties with Russia as well, as per the norms of international law based on equality.
To another question, they feared the western sanctions against Moscow will cripple the Russian economy and affect its currency, saying that Putin has to re-evaluate its war policy against Ukraine to find a solution to the conflict.
The Ukrainian conflict cost Russia in one month equating to a recession of 10 years, they said adding that this war is rather leading Moscow towards a decline than a rise. They pointed out that the west should also follow the international law.
Earlier, speaking on different topics related to the Russian affairs, a panel of the experts including Head of Political Science Department, University of Karachi, Dr Tanweer Khalid, Ambassadors, Shahid Amin and Hasan Habib walked the viewers through a history from the USSR to Putin rule.
Shahid Amin said that the USSR achieved a lot in terms of development especially being the first nation to go to the space, imparted free education to all, achieved industrialization, women equality in all employment fields, and permitted no racism in the society, like the Europe.
However, he said, state repression never let a real growth of the society, with no freedom of speech to individuals, prohibition of religious practices, lack economic competition and non-incentives to the top professionals like doctors and engineers, arms race with the west and cold war conflicts brought it to disintegration.
At the end, Russia embraced two ideologies to overcome growing corruption and strengthen its ailing economy during Gorbachev rule. The first: Perestroika meaning free speech and the second one: Glasnost to allow political openness in the society.
After a coup, Gorbachev resigned and Boris Yeltsin took over as he introduced free market and democracy to the Russian society after it disintegrated in 1991. Throughout 1990s, Russia struggled with its poor economy and growing crimes, Shahid Amin said.
Hasan Habib highlighted Russia’s Eurasian economic relations especially with China after its disintegration. He forecast that it will be China to decide the future affairs of both nations and not Moscow.
Russia offers an economic route to China to reach European markets as Beijing has advantage over Moscow with its freight trains that are faster than maritime shipments.
Dr Tanveer Khalid was of the view that Russia will stick to its protection policy against the west despite having liberal economic structure and democracy. Moscow makes attempts to ward off western influence as let its society find indigenous political and economic solutions.
For a short while from 9/11 to the US invasion of Iraq, Putin remained an ally of the west and was close to NATO. However, Russia soon relinquished its policy towards the US after vetoing Iraq war in the UN, she said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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