Islamabad: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan supports Russian engagement in the Afghan peace process in the wake of withdrawal of US and allied troops.
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"We must forget what Russia did in the past and look forward to a new beginning in the region," Khawaja Asif said in a newspaper interview.
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Brushing aside the notion that Russian defence minister's recently concluded visit to Pakistan might annoy New Delhi and Washington, Khawaja Asif said improvement in ties between Islamabad and Moscow were not at the cost of relations with other countries.
The two countries signed a "milestone" agreement last week for bilateral cooperation in defence field during the visit that marked a final go-ahead to the purchase of MI-35 helicopters. Asif described it as a major breakthrough after Russia lifted arms sales embargo to Pakistan earlier this year. He termed it as a reflection of Pakistan's independent diplomacy and said: "Russia is a great regional power and Pakistan cannot ignore it."
"After US/Nato forces' withdrawal from Afghanistan, security would be a bigger challenge for Afghanistan ... and Pakistan wants Russian engagement in Afghan peace process," he said.
"Pakistan terms Russia and China's presence in the region as source of peace and stability and that is why all three are getting closer on strategic matters," Khawaja Asif remarked pointing towards a major shift in Pakistan's foreign and security policy. |