ASSESSMENTS

Pakistan Finds a Friend in Russia

May 8, 2018 | 10:00 GMT

Pakistan and Russia were the bitterest of enemies during the Cold War, but a convergence of strategic interests has brought them back together.

(ALEKSANDAR MIJATOVIC/Shutterstock)

Highlights

As the United States intensifies its pressure against Pakistan over the latter's continued support for the Taliban in Afghanistan, Islamabad will deepen its outreach to Moscow in a counterbalancing effort.
Russia and Pakistan will focus on building a security partnership based on counterterrorism cooperation to combat the threat of transnational jihadism posed by the Islamic State's Khorasan chapter in Afghanistan.
While the depth of Russia's connections with Pakistan's archrival, India, suggest that the Russo-Indian relationship will endure, the growing U.S.-India defense partnership will drive Moscow increasingly toward Islamabad.

Three decades provides a lot of time for a rethink: Pakistan and Russia were the bitterest of enemies during the Cold War, but a convergence of strategic interests have brought Islamabad and the Kremlin closer than ever before. In recent months, Pakistan's foreign minister, national security adviser and army chief have journeyed to Moscow to explore a security partnership focused on combating the threat of transnational jihadism emanating from Afghanistan. And in a bid to formalize these engagements, Islamabad even expressed interest in forging a strategic partnership with Moscow on May 1. The developments are taking place at a time when Pakistan's relationship with the United States –- a Cold War ally, no less –- is steadily deteriorating due to Islamabad's continuing support for militant proxies battling NATO-backed forces in Afghanistan. ...

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