A photo showing a commando contingent from Russia's Southern MD Mountain Motorized Rifle Brigade being greeted by Pakistani hosts adorned front pages of all newspapers on Saturday - a sign of general appreciation of growing warmth in Pak-Russia relations. The Russian soldiers have arrived to participate in a joint military exercise codenamed 'Druzhbha 2016' - the word used means friendship in Russian language - which is to feature counter-terrorism as well as conventional special operations training sessions. The war games are part of "an intensive programme" of joint events for 2016. Notably, the two sides had signed a military co-operation agreement back in 2014, leading to high-level military exchanges, and lifting of a longstanding embargo on arms sales to this country. So far reliant mainly on American weaponry, Pakistan already has finalised a deal for the purchase of Mi attack helicopters, and is looking to acquire more military equipment from Russia.
The present event of course, was planned in advance; still, it holds special significance coming as it does at a time of heightened tensions with India, and that country's attempts to isolate Pakistan internationally. No wonder New Delhi is annoyed at the development and is reported to have tried to stop it. Russia is already hosting military units from India for a joint exercise codenamed "Indira 2016" to be concluded on October 2. Interestingly, however, the two codenames 'Druzhbha' for Pakistan and 'Indira' - a hark back to the Cold War era - for India exemplify the political truism that countries have no permanent friends or foes, only permanent interests. India, an ally of the erstwhile Soviet Union - despite being a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War years - and later Russia, is now in a tight embrace with the US while the latter's long-term alliance with Pakistan is under stress.
Global power alignments are shifting, creating new challenges for Pakistan. Just last month, the US and India signed an agreement to use one another military bases, aimed mainly at encircling China but also ringing alarm bells in Islamabad as that could allow New Delhi to use US' bases in Afghanistan threatening this country's security. Washington has also been lobbying hard, albeit so far unsuccessfully, to help India become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group - which controls nuclear trade and access to nuclear technology - telling Islamabad to wait for its entry into the Group. Meanwhile, many in this country have been expressing the concern that the government's foreign policy is adrift, and Pakistan is getting increasingly isolated in the region. That though does not seem to be a fair criticism considering that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been trying his best to improve relations with India. Afghanistan is a mess more because of US' adventures than Pakistan's policies, though it needs to help the Afghan government stabilise the country. Relations with Iran seem to be getting better. Nawaz Sharif is to visit Tehran on the invitation of his Iranian counterpart. Efforts have also been on to place Pakistan on the right side in the changing geo-strategic scenario, with an emphasis on regional co-operation. It is now a full member of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation. And as the joint exercise with Russia indicates, Pakistan is in the process of making a new beginning with an increasing assertive Russia. That though should not mean spoiling friendship with the US. In the present-day multi-polar world this country would be wise to try and stay on friendly terms with all major players, mend fences with its neighbours, and form strong trade and economic ties in the extended neighbourhood.
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