Russia lifts embargo on weapons supplies to Pakistan

[Fahad Khan 2]

Mister
we should order at least 25 helicopters
I dont care about the looks.. and on the equipment side I would really like to have military grade (meaning very powerful) night vision equipment to track the enemy movement Sir.

sir I am telling you that Augusta based Turkish helicopter is an expensive and useless toy against insurgency and the Chinese Z-10 is unproven .... thing. I dont want to be rude to Chinese Mister.

Sir if it was up to me I would have used Napalm and pesticides to deal with Taliban so no need for cool looking helicopters Mister. 25 are enough mister

Instead of buying Mi-35 which is a big bird and may be it's maneuverability and max height may be low we should look to upgrade some 20 of our Mi-17 to Attack one....
We should go for Apache like Attack Helicopter because our need is like that which is good in Attack not a combo of both transporter and Attacker....
Do you think it will be more feasible with out limited budget??

 

[airmarshal]

Why is Russia lifting embargo on military supplies to Pakistan?

Russia has just announced a hugely strategic decision that may alter the regional power matrix and bug India at a time when the just-installed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was looking to deepen ties with Moscow.

Sergey Chemezov, head of Russian state-run technologies corporation Rostec, announced on Monday that Russia has lifted an embargo on supplying weapons and military hardware to Pakistan. He also said that Moscow is negotiating the delivery of several Mi-25 helicopter gunships to Islamabad."The decision was taken and we are negotiating the delivery of helicopters,"the Voice of Russia quoted Chemezov as saying.

Why this move and why now?
The Russian decision is indicative of a paradigm shift in Russian foreign policy, a kind of move which one sees once in several decades.

Naturally, when a state takes such a decision it must not be without considering the pros and cons of the matter, the strategic takeaways and the possible pitfalls.

Two compelling reasons for the Russian move may well be Afghanistan and the Russia-West spat over Ukraine.

Like India and China, Russia too is waiting with bated breath the post-2014 Afghanistan as American/NATO are scheduled to pull out most of their troops from the land-locked country by this year end. The Taliban is in a resurgent mode. Everybody knows that during the Taliban rule (1996-2001), Afghanistan had become the most productive and flourishing factory of jihad in the world. Therefore, the withdrawal of American/NATO troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 may well turn the country into a tinder box again.

While Russia would definitely not like this scenario, it can hardly change the situation and counter the new situation with a Plan B. Pakistan’s importance would increase enormously in the post-2014 situation in Afghanistan.

Improving relations with Pakistan would give an important leverage to Russia in the post-2014 Afghanistan. If Russia and China do not want the loose canons of the Taliban to unleash themselves at them, then it is Pakistan and no one else that can make it happen.

The Russian move may be far shrewder than one can think. It may well be indicative of a China-Russia-Pakistan (CRP) axis, largely because of flawed policies of the Obama administration.

Russia and Pakistan have had a rather cold relationship, despite the latter’s sustained attempts over recent years to mend the ties. Reasons for the Russian coldness toward Pakistan are not difficult to see. It is the India factor. India clearly does not favor Russia cozying up to Pakistan and Russia could not have afforded to annoy the Indians. Why, after all, Russia should play a zero-sum game in South Asia when it is having the best of relations with India, a sworn enemy of Pakistan?

That was the argument of most Russians who opposed the very idea of needling India, the largest importer of Russian weapons. But even this defense relationship received setbacks in the past two years as Russia lost out to other competitors like Israel, the United States and Europe on several big-ticket Indian defense deals.

The India angle
Let me begin the India angle in this context with two seemingly contradictory statements.

One, the Russian decision of lifting its embargo on weapons supplies to Pakistan is a huge setback to India. Two, India and Russia will continue to do business together as both need each other immensely.

It is highly unlikely that the Russian move would have come as a complete surprise to the Indians. New Delhi has been aware of formal consultations between Russia and Pakistan in the trilateral format on Afghanistan – the third country being China.

It is quite possible that Moscow may have taken the Indians into its confidence on its upcoming policy change and put forth its strategic compulsions.

Russia and India are working very closely in the Afghan theater and have embarked on a novel understanding wherein India pays for Russian arms supplied by Russia to Afghanistan for boosting Afghan armed forces’ capabilities. Is there a possibility that the Russians have taken a sort of ‘no-objection certificate’ from the Indians for their unprecedented outreach to Pakistan?

One cannot rule out anything. Games such as these are often played on the strategic chessboards. What can be a bigger strategic chessboard than Afghanistan where all the top powers of the world are directly involved?

Moreover, one should not expect an official statement from either Moscow or New Delhi on this issue. Games such as these are often played in the back alleys, far from the media glare.

Why is Russia lifting embargo on military supplies to Pakistan? — RT Op-Edge

Certainly Russia being a big power does not need \no objection certificate' from India.

Russia move to supply weapons to Pakistan is a strategic decision and one that accounts Russia's interests not India's.

 

[Secret Service]

Why is Russia lifting embargo on military supplies to Pakistan?

Russia has just announced a hugely strategic decision that may alter the regional power matrix and bug India at a time when the just-installed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was looking to deepen ties with Moscow.

Sergey Chemezov, head of Russian state-run technologies corporation Rostec, announced on Monday that Russia has lifted an embargo on supplying weapons and military hardware to Pakistan. He also said that Moscow is negotiating the delivery of several Mi-25 helicopter gunships to Islamabad."The decision was taken and we are negotiating the delivery of helicopters,"the Voice of Russia quoted Chemezov as saying.

Why this move and why now?
The Russian decision is indicative of a paradigm shift in Russian foreign policy, a kind of move which one sees once in several decades.

Naturally, when a state takes such a decision it must not be without considering the pros and cons of the matter, the strategic takeaways and the possible pitfalls.

Two compelling reasons for the Russian move may well be Afghanistan and the Russia-West spat over Ukraine.

Like India and China, Russia too is waiting with bated breath the post-2014 Afghanistan as American/NATO are scheduled to pull out most of their troops from the land-locked country by this year end. The Taliban is in a resurgent mode. Everybody knows that during the Taliban rule (1996-2001), Afghanistan had become the most productive and flourishing factory of jihad in the world. Therefore, the withdrawal of American/NATO troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 may well turn the country into a tinder box again.

While Russia would definitely not like this scenario, it can hardly change the situation and counter the new situation with a Plan B. Pakistan’s importance would increase enormously in the post-2014 situation in Afghanistan.

Improving relations with Pakistan would give an important leverage to Russia in the post-2014 Afghanistan. If Russia and China do not want the loose canons of the Taliban to unleash themselves at them, then it is Pakistan and no one else that can make it happen.

The Russian move may be far shrewder than one can think. It may well be indicative of a China-Russia-Pakistan (CRP) axis, largely because of flawed policies of the Obama administration.

Russia and Pakistan have had a rather cold relationship, despite the latter’s sustained attempts over recent years to mend the ties. Reasons for the Russian coldness toward Pakistan are not difficult to see. It is the India factor. India clearly does not favor Russia cozying up to Pakistan and Russia could not have afforded to annoy the Indians. Why, after all, Russia should play a zero-sum game in South Asia when it is having the best of relations with India, a sworn enemy of Pakistan?

That was the argument of most Russians who opposed the very idea of needling India, the largest importer of Russian weapons. But even this defense relationship received setbacks in the past two years as Russia lost out to other competitors like Israel, the United States and Europe on several big-ticket Indian defense deals.

The India angle
Let me begin the India angle in this context with two seemingly contradictory statements.

One, the Russian decision of lifting its embargo on weapons supplies to Pakistan is a huge setback to India. Two, India and Russia will continue to do business together as both need each other immensely.

It is highly unlikely that the Russian move would have come as a complete surprise to the Indians. New Delhi has been aware of formal consultations between Russia and Pakistan in the trilateral format on Afghanistan – the third country being China.

It is quite possible that Moscow may have taken the Indians into its confidence on its upcoming policy change and put forth its strategic compulsions.

Russia and India are working very closely in the Afghan theater and have embarked on a novel understanding wherein India pays for Russian arms supplied by Russia to Afghanistan for boosting Afghan armed forces’ capabilities. Is there a possibility that the Russians have taken a sort of ‘no-objection certificate’ from the Indians for their unprecedented outreach to Pakistan?

One cannot rule out anything. Games such as these are often played on the strategic chessboards. What can be a bigger strategic chessboard than Afghanistan where all the top powers of the world are directly involved?

Moreover, one should not expect an official statement from either Moscow or New Delhi on this issue. Games such as these are often played in the back alleys, far from the media glare.

Why is Russia lifting embargo on military supplies to Pakistan? — RT Op-Edge

written bt Rajeev Sharma...it is indian point of view i think not russian..

 

[Windjammer]

Whether or not Pakistan goes for any Russian equipment is another matter, the bottom line is that since India has diversified it's weapon acquirements specialy those from US, it leaves Russia also unbound to sell equipments to whom it deems fit. It also puts Pakistan in a win win situation for if any strings were attached to purchases made from US, they will now be acutely snapped.

 

[Secret Service]

Pakistan should go for more Mi 17 transport helicopters and if possible attack version as well...it will benefit army aviation and neighbor will also have no issues...while China and turkey should be considered for attack helicopters..

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

Two Ukrainian Mi-24s shot down by MANPADS

Come on, your talking about a country that cant even carry out Military exercises let alone get on the firing range to shoot more than 1 AK 47 magazine without bankrupting the country.

Mi-35 is an old technology helicopter. Pakistan Army should be looking for Mi-28 instead. It needs a dedicated gunship, not a combination of transport and attack helicopter.

F-22 was first designed back in 1986, first flight was 1997.
F-15 1965, first flight 1972.
F-16 1972, first flight 1974.

Never doubt a machine based on it's looks. "Its whats under the hood and behind the wheel".

we should order at least 25 helicopters
I dont care about the looks.. and on the equipment side I would really like to have military grade (meaning very powerful) night vision equipment to track the enemy movement Sir.

This export ban lifting is an interesting deal, if the Pakistani GHQ leaves it hanging or the Russians feel they haven't gotten as much as they risked they aren't going to be very happy.

a bit off-topic, but i don't understand either;what the eff were we doing back in days - according to some unofficial reports, some Tanks of ours were found eating dust in the back yard of Iran - that we loaned out to them but forgot to get them back???

We have ENTIRE airport fields bigger than than the largest Pakistani Airport filled with use-able but discarded planes.
Tanks parked on concrete in Nevada,
Ships left at harbor.
Its nothing new.

PHOTOS: The Air Force Boneyard - Business Insider

the helicopters we gave to the Americans whould have gathered dust in our country like the ones we didnt give away. our planners then either didnt see the need for them because we were expecting to get Apaches before the assassination of General Zia or we just lacked the will or spares to keep them airworthy,

Could have been much more pressure on the Pakistan GHQ to NOT use them than the stop gap they would have filled. Remember the KGB and Spetnaz started taking out SSG/ exSSG, ISI, MI (Air Force, Navy, Army) after the Soviets left. And it wasnt just them, Chinese, Saudi, and random Iranians were found with double taps in the back of their heads. It wouldnt have been nice to start strafing run against Communist Afghan troops with the same weapons the Communist Soviets gave them would it?

Some of the older Soviet Russians havent forgotten or forgiven Pakistan for it's involvement in Afghanistan. This 'opportunity' Putin is playing is once in a generation one. Dont just start looking at Soviet/Russian helos and then decided they're not good enough like you did with the SU27s and MiG 29s.

 

[bababhosundi]

Doesnt the US get a say in this?

They do fund a significant part of Pakistan military and may throw a spanner in the works. Interesting to see since they did allow Afghan forces to buy russian stuff from their money.

 

[HAIDER]

Russia has just announced a hugely strategic decision that may alter the regional power matrix and bug India at a time when the just-installed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was looking to deepen ties with Moscow.

Sergey Chemezov, head of Russian state-run technologies corporation Rostec, announced on Monday that Russia has lifted an embargo on supplying weapons and military hardware to Pakistan. He also said that Moscow is negotiating the delivery of several Mi-25 helicopter gunships to Islamabad. "The decision was taken and we are negotiating the delivery of helicopters," the Voice of Russia quoted Chemezov as saying.

Why this move and why now?
The Russian decision is indicative of a paradigm shift in Russian foreign policy, a kind of move which one sees once in several decades.

Naturally, when a state takes such a decision it must not be without considering the pros and cons of the matter, the strategic takeaways and the possible pitfalls.

Two compelling reasons for the Russian move may well be Afghanistan and the Russia-West spat over Ukraine.

Like India and China, Russia too is waiting with bated breath the post-2014 Afghanistan as American/NATO are scheduled to pull out most of their troops from the land-locked country by this year end. The Taliban is in a resurgent mode. Everybody knows that during the Taliban rule (1996-2001), Afghanistan had become the most productive and flourishing factory of jihad in the world. Therefore, the withdrawal of American/NATO troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 may well turn the country into a tinder box again.

While Russia would definitely not like this scenario, it can hardly change the situation and counter the new situation with a Plan B. Pakistan’s importance would increase enormously in the post-2014 situation in Afghanistan.

Improving relations with Pakistan would give an important leverage to Russia in the post-2014 Afghanistan. If Russia and China do not want the loose canons of the Taliban to unleash themselves at them, then it is Pakistan and no one else that can make it happen.

The Russian move may be far shrewder than one can think. It may well be indicative of a China-Russia-Pakistan (CRP) axis, largely because of flawed policies of the Obama administration.

Russia and Pakistan have had a rather cold relationship, despite the latter’s sustained attempts over recent years to mend the ties. Reasons for the Russian coldness toward Pakistan are not difficult to see. It is the India factor. India clearly does not favor Russia cozying up to Pakistan and Russia could not have afforded to annoy the Indians. Why, after all, Russia should play a zero-sum game in South Asia when it is having the best of relations with India, a sworn enemy of Pakistan?

That was the argument of most Russians who opposed the very idea of needling India, the largest importer of Russian weapons. But even this defense relationship received setbacks in the past two years as Russia lost out to other competitors like Israel, the United States and Europe on several big-ticket Indian defense deals.

The India angle
Let me begin the India angle in this context with two seemingly contradictory statements.

One, the Russian decision of lifting its embargo on weapons supplies to Pakistan is a huge setback to India. Two, India and Russia will continue to do business together as both need each other immensely.

It is highly unlikely that the Russian move would have come as a complete surprise to the Indians. New Delhi has been aware of formal consultations between Russia and Pakistan in the trilateral format on Afghanistan – the third country being China.

It is quite possible that Moscow may have taken the Indians into its confidence on its upcoming policy change and put forth its strategic compulsions.

Russia and India are working very closely in the Afghan theater and have embarked on a novel understanding wherein India pays for Russian arms supplied by Russia to Afghanistan for boosting Afghan armed forces’ capabilities. Is there a possibility that the Russians have taken a sort of ‘no-objection certificate’ from the Indians for their unprecedented outreach to Pakistan?

One cannot rule out anything. Games such as these are often played on the strategic chessboards. What can be a bigger strategic chessboard than Afghanistan where all the top powers of the world are directly involved?

Moreover, one should not expect an official statement from either Moscow or New Delhi on this issue. Games such as these are often played in the back alleys, far from the media glare.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

 

[Tshering22]

Whether or not Pakistan goes for any Russian equipment is another matter, the bottom line is that since India has diversified it's weapon acquirements specialy those from US, it leaves Russia also unbound to sell equipments to whom it deems fit. It also puts Pakistan in a win win situation for if any strings were attached to purchases made from US, they will now be acutely snapped.

That's a good analysis. But you must understand that Russians prefer hard cash in thrir transaction which the US doesn't mind getting later after extracting the strategic benefit off whoever bus their weapons.

You are right in terms of the autonomy they grant. But you need big pockets to get the big ticket gunships. MI-35 new ones aren't exactly cost effective.

 

[GORKHALI]

Whether or not Pakistan goes for any Russian equipment is another matter, the bottom line is that since India has diversified it's weapon acquirements specialy those from US, it leaves Russia also unbound to sell equipments to whom it deems fit. It also puts Pakistan in a win win situation for if any strings were attached to purchases made from US, they will now be acutely snapped.

Thats true,actully INS Vikramaditya is now india last big purchase from Russia.As many reports coming from credible sources that now even IAF feel ,its waste of resource and time to get into joint RnD of PAK FA,better they buy more off the shelf Rafale and develop Indigenous AMCA.Also, New govt very much against Imports till its very urgent like Artillery,SUBs etc etc.As France ready to TOT for upto 80% of technology except few ultra critical thing as they feel,Indian Industries not yet upto the mark to execute and absorb these technologies.

 

[FunkyGen]

Mister
we should order at least 25 helicopters
I dont care about the looks.. and on the equipment side I would really like to have military grade (meaning very powerful) night vision equipment to track the enemy movement Sir.

Hey let's say Russians don't wanna give us the NV enabled version, can't we put it on ourselves? (hint: institute of optronic/Zumr)

Sir if it was up to me I would have used Napalm and pesticides to deal with Taliban so no need for cool looking helicopters Mister. 25 are enough mister

Orange agent.....
(nah just googled it, too brutal)

 

[Amaa'n]

Doesnt the US get a say in this?

They do fund a significant part of Pakistan military and may throw a spanner in the works. Interesting to see since they did allow Afghan forces to buy russian stuff from their money.

are you high??

 

[kashif_Qaimi]

well the other side of coin is this that after new BJP Government with Narendra Modi as PM in India, Russia Might think that Pakistan will increase its Defence Budget and want to Purchase new and latest weapon to tackle any type of invasion from India. Pakistan will seek to import latest weapon from Russia.

 

[FunkyGen]

when you are confronted with an enemy so vile and so low who justifies every sick action with your own religion and the beliefs you hold so dear... then the answer has to be powerful and devastating enough that the Taliban and their supporters are only left with their eyes to weep when our military is done with them.

secularism would be the best answer but let's wait for the future generations to sober up

Jihad is not a taliban word its a Quran word which is used to describe struggle to succeed for good cause. Now if you are a white master worshiper who have adopted the word jihad to describe mass murder then go ahead and be one and make your parents proud.

Pak army should order a squadron of Mi-gun ships for western front and opt for more advance heli for eastern front.

Yar i have no idea why people like you sitting abroad don't know what these "Muslims" have done to us? why!?
Also i'm sorry if anybody feels offensive but my thinking towards religion has severely changed after this episode of zaliman and other "Muslims" in Syria.... literally scum of the Earth!

 

[arp2041]

There is a DIFFERENCE b/w LETHAL & NON-LETHAL military sales.