Table of Contents
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will attend a key economic forum to be held in Russia in September 2019 Eastern Economic Forum
EASTERN ECONOMIC FORUM
- “I want to invite you as the main guest to the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September this year,” Putin said.
EASTERN ECONOMIC FORUM
- Eastern Economic Forum is an international forum held each year in Vladivostok, Russia, for the purpose of encouraging foreign investment in the Russian Far East.
RUSSIA POPULATION DENSITY
WHY PAKISTAN INVITED?
- Some doubts in the mind of people
- Are Russia and Pakistan getting close?
- Is Russia using Pakistan to warn India against building closer ties with USA?
RUSSIA PAKISTAN AFGHANISTAN
- The Russian embassy in May had stated that Pakistan is an important partner for Russia for its significant role in regional politics, especially in its efforts to bring long-term peace to Afghanistan.
- In December 2018, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Russia. The two sides “agreed to continue efforts, including through Moscow Format of Consultations, for supporting reconciliation under an Afghan-led and Afghanowned peace process”, the Foreign Office said at the time.
INDIA RUSSIA BONDS FAR STRONGER
- Bilateral trade Between Pakistan and Russia in 2018 was estimated to touch $800 million, up from $600 million the previous year.
- When compared to the figures for India, the difference is rather stark. India-Russia trade touched $10 billion in 2017, which despite not being adequate, is miles ahead of the Russia-Pakistan trade.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- The Kremlin released figures showing that trade between Russia and China grew almost 25 percent last year, reaching $108 billion — finally breaking the $100 billion milestone sought for years, even if partly based on higher oil prices.
INDIA RUSSIA BONDS FAR STRONGER
- In the defence sector, in 2018 alone, India decided to sign the contract for supply for S400 missile defence system worth $5.2 billion, four frigates worth $950 million followed the next year by a $3 billion deal for a nuclear submarine to replace INS Chakra, approval for purchase of 464 T-90 tanks for $2 billion and the launch of the joint project to manufacture AK-203/103 rifles.
PAKISTAN’S DEFENCE INDUSTRY AND RUSSIA
- While there has been an uptick in arms supply, making Russia the third largest supplier to Pakistan — the largest beneficiary of a decline in US sales to Pakistan has been China
CONCLUSION
- It will be absurd to think that Russia values Pakistan as a defence purchaser more than it does India
- Or if Russia can even dream of replacing India with Pakistan
BUT RUSSIA WANTS INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO GET CLOSER
WHAT RUSSIA WANTS
- Russia would want Pakistan and India to get closer
- Work on a joint natural gas pipeline
- Help Russian exports to South Asia and beyond
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