Arrival on Oct 2: Putin likely to address Parliament

NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD: Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on October 2, 2012. He is likely to address a joint sitting of the Parliament, it is learnt. According to sources, this is first time ever for a Russian President to address the joint session of the Parliament of Pakistan.

When contacted, National Assembly Secretariat sources said they have not yet received any intimation from the Foreign Office or the Presidency in this regard. However, they said if the President summons a joint session of Parliament the secretariats of both Houses (National Assembly and Senate) are fully prepared to implement the summons.     

Sources said Vladimir Putin, during his visit to Pakistan, will hold meetings with President Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Ashraf.

President Putin would also attend quadrilateral summit of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Russia and Pakistan in Islamabad which would be held during October 1 to 3. The sources said that the situation in Afghanistan, regional security, terrorism, smuggling and human trafficking will also be discussed in the summit meeting.

President Zardari had invited his counterparts from Russia, Afghanistan and Tajikistan to participate in the fourth quadrilateral summit to be hosted by Pakistan. The President had also invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to undertake a bilateral visit on the eve of the quadrilateral summit.

Pakistan has expressed serious reservations over the civil nuclear agreements between India and US and would like to explore the possibility of cooperation with Russia in this field. Analysts maintain that even though relations between Pakistan and India are improving, yet the history of conflict with India calls for a stronger defence for Pakistan’s survival.

Pakistan is currently facing energy crisis and is looking for international cooperation to deal with the problem. The sources said Russia has shown special interest in energy projects in Pakistan. The country has indicated investing in Central Asia-South Asia CASA-1000 electricity transmission project and funding as well as laying the pipeline for the proposed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

The sources said during Putin’s visit, a number of memoranda of understanding are likely to be signed which include cooperation in the fields of energy, economics, science and technology.

Agriculture, medicine, aeronautics, oil and gas, and mining are among areas where both the countries can assist each other and learn from each other’s experience.

The sources said the visit is significant not only because it is the first-ever visit of a Russian president to Pakistan,  but  also  because  it  is  at  a  time  when  certain  significant  geostrategic changes are taking place in international politics.