Pakistan-USSR Relations.

Presented to: Sir Rizwan.

Presented by: Mohammad Sultan ul Haq.

Riphah School of Leadership.

R. S. L.
Main Points:

• Pakistan’s establishment.

• Pakistan access to warm water of the Indian ocean.

• Russia’s invitaion to Liaquat Ali Khan.

• Pakistan joined SEATO, CENTO and Baghdad Pact.

• Pakistan’s relations with US.

• 1960 Pakistan gave its air base to US.

• Ayub Khan’s efforts to built relations with Russia.

• Good relations between Russia and India.

• Russian invation in Afghanistan.

• Effects of invation in Afghanistan.

• 1988 Russian forces returns.

• Present Senario.

• Future Aspects.
History:

After the establishment of Pakistan Russia showed her keeness for the

relation with Pakistan. On the other hand the United States of America also showed

her keeness to build relations with Pakistan. Both country sent invitation to Liaquat

Ali Khan the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. Liaquat Ali Khan went to United States

but not to the Russia. It gave mistrust which had already taken roots in the USSR.

Pakistan sought the membership of SEATO in 1954 and of CENTO in 1955

which corroborated pakistan’s pro-west inclination in its foreign policy. Pakistan

membership of the westren alliances was understood in the USSR as a rude gesture.

Nevertheless the soviet Union continued its efforts to build good relation

with Pakistan. In 1956 USSR offered its technical and economic support to Pakistan

in its bid to attract Pakistan for developing good relations. Due to the same reason

Russia declared that the problem o Kashmir should be dicieded by the will of the

people.

The relations between Pakistan and USSR received a severe set-back

when pakistan Allowed USA to use its air base at peshawar. That air base was

actually taken by the US for the SPYING purposes. A US air craft U-2, which took off

from peshawar in May 1960 was detected by Soviet radar and was shot down and

the pilot was arrested. This incedent created anger in Russia and Pakistan was

threatened by Russia.
 In 1961 the relations between two countries turned towards good

way as Russia made offer to explore oil in Pakistan and Pakistan acccepted it. The

Soviet Union offered a credit of 30 millions to Pakistan, it also offered tranings to the

pakistani engineers. Pakistan after 1965 war started to built relations with china.

In 1965-70 the trade between Russia and Pakistan increased Rapidly. Large

numbers of trade agreements were concluded between the Soviet Union and the

Pakistan. Soviet Unoin also increased its assistance to Pakistan for developing

projects.

Under military leader Ayub Khan, Pakistan sought to improve relations with

the Soviet Union; trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries increased

between 1966 and 1971. However, Soviet criticism of Pakistan's position in the 1971

war with India weakened bilateral relations, and many Pakistanis believed that the

August 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Peace and Cooperation encouraged

Indian belligerency. Subsequent Soviet arms sales to India, amounting to billions of

dollars on concessional terms, reinforced this argument.

The relations between india and USSR increased on the other hand as well

which was threatening for pakistan. Russia was also uncomfortable with the

pakistan-china relations. During the war of 1971, Russia openly sided with india. It

also warned other countries to keep away from the war. Pakistan on the other hand

came up with nominal alliance of US. Due to the massive military assistance to india

from Russia india was enable to walk into the east Pakistan.

During 1972 Pak Soviet relations were almost at the verge of collapse.

Butto in view of the Russian hostike and unfriendly , launched his preventive
diplomacy which was aimed at avoiding the global power intervention which made

the weaker nations as easy prey to the stronger nations.

Bhutto in his efforts to remove misunderstandings between two contries

visited Moscow in 1972 and in 1974 which was helpful.

Russian Invation in Afghanistan:

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 highlighted the common

interest of Pakistan and the United States in peace and stability in South Asia.

Pakistan was one of the fifty nations who vehemently condemned

Russian infiltration in Afghanistan and called upon a UN Security council to deplore

the Soviet action and demanded the Russian withdrawal of the foreign troops from

Afghanistan. In 1981, the United States and Pakistan agreed on a $3.2-billion

military and economic assistance program aimed at helping Pakistan deal with the

heightened threat to security in the region and its economic development needs.

With U.S. assistance - in the largest covert operation in history - Pakistan armed and

supplied anti-Soviet fighters in Afghanistan, eventually defeating the Soviets, who

withdrew in 1988.

During the 1980s, tensions increased between the Soviet Union and

Pakistan because of the latter's key role in helping to organize political and material

support for the Afghan rebel forces. The withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan

and the collapse of the former Soviet Union resulted in significantly improved

bilateral relations, but Pakistan's support for and recognition of the Taliban regime in

neighboring Afghanistan remained an ongoing source of tension. Later on,

government of Pakistan changed its policy towards Taliban when it was realized that

it was protecting Osama Bin Laden and joined US forces in helping overthrow them.
 The russian invasion was strongly opposed by pakistan, in the present

circumstances Pakistan decided to protedt her national intrests. She openly criticised

the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan because it was against all norms and

principles as emuncipated by the UN charter.

The soviet invation however had a profound effect on Pakistan’s geopolitical

situation pakistan became a frontline state in cold war. Altogether more than 3

million afghan refugees fled to Pakistan and the coumtry became a base for the

mujahideen fighting against the soviet troops. Soviet troops completed their

withdrawal from Afghanistan in February 1989.

However, after the break-up of the Soviet Union, emergence of Globalization

and the 9/11 events, the developments which changed the dynamics of world politics

altogether, Pakistan, by bringing about a shift in its foreign policy, attempted to

cultivate friendly relations with the Central Asian States and Russian Federation

With this objective President Musharraf visited Moscow in 2002 which opened a new

chapter in Pakistan-Russia relations. The way Russians had received the Pakistani

president reflected their strong desire for better interaction with Pakistan. Foreign

Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri's visit to Moscow in 2004 and a reciprocal visit by

the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister were new examples of friendly overtures.

Subsequently Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited Moscow on October 2005, along

with some ministers, to participate in the fourth Shanghai Co-operation Organization

(SCO) summit that discussed the overall security situation of the region. This was the

first presence of Pakistan at the SCO after it received observer status with the

support of Moscow in July 2005.

Pakistan and Russia are looking forward for the strong relationship in all the

sectors of prosperity.