Kayani’s Official Trip To Russia – Key Areas to Look Forward?

Although, ISPR has not released details of General Kayani’s visit to Russia, defence sources revealed that during his visit, the potential for enhancing defence co-operation between the two countries would be explored. Purchase of military hardware from Russia to meet Pak military needs in war against terror will be a major point of discussion, they said.

Pakistan is keen to seek Russia’s co-operation to upgrade some of its military hardware, including Mi-17 helicopters and T-80ud tanks and Pakistan also wants to have military-to-military exchanges with Russia, sources added. Earlier, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt attended the centenary celebrations of Russian Air Force in August this year. The Air Chief was invited by his Russian counterpart to attend the celebrations that were marked with a mega Air Show at famous Zhukovsky airfield. The airfield is globally known as the venue of the Max Air Show, which hosted Aerial and Static displays of vintage as well as fifth generation combat aircraft.

General Kayani is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin, who recently called off a scheduled visit to Pakistan that led to the postponement of the scheduled quadrilateral summit of Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan in Islamabad on October 02-03. The Foreign Office of Pakistan has indicated that the dates of Putin’s visit will be rescheduled through diplomatic channels. However, according to Press Secretary of Russian President, Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s trip to Islamabad is not even planned. Possible date of President’s visit to Pakistan is subject to separate negotiations”, Russian media quoted Peskov.

This will be the Pakistan Army chief’s first visit to Russia since 2009, when he had made a trip at the invitation of his counterpart. The visit will help give a push to Islamabad’s efforts towards improving relations with Moscow ahead of the pull out of foreign troops from Afghanistan. Sources said Kayani’s previous visit had helped prepare the grounds for a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and the then President Dmitry Medvedev in 2010. Colonel General Alexander Postnikov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, visited Pakistan in May last year. This was the first visit by a senior Russian military commander to Pakistan in many years.(Business Recorder)