Establishment of Pakistan-Russian diplomatic relations - 60 years

Pakistan Russia Business Council (FPCCI) and CEO, Integrated Textiles Network Development of Pak - Russian relations has approached a momentous date - 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations.
On May 1st, 1948 Ministries of Foreign Affairs of USSR and Pakistan agreed to establish diplomatic representations in the grade of embassies between two states on a way of developing bilateral opportunities and prospects for their comprehensive __operation. On December 30th, 1948 the first ambassador of Pakistan took part in the ceremony of presentation of credentials in Moscow and on March 22nd, 1950 the first Ambassador of USSR in Pakistan started his duties.
It should be noted that historically relationship of Pakistan with Soviet Union, and then with Russia had the turbulent character noted by recessions and rises. The mutual mistrust and tension in the past have been caused by existing then the bipolar world related to military-political opposition of two socio-economic blocks.
The pro-western stance of Pakistan hindered the development of its cooperation with USSR, which at an initial stage had limited character and was reduced mainly to trading communications. Soviet Union aspired to become stronger in S.E.Asian region by means of developing a good-neighbourhood with India and Afghanistan.
Soon Pakistan realised the political benefits it had lost because of the unilateral orientation towards USA and estrangement, from the nearest neighbour - the USSR, which played an important role in the regional policy. Having realised that, Pakistan's leadership tried to make up for lost time.
In April 1965 an official visit to the USSR by President of Pakistan General Muhammad Ayub Khan took place. Soviet Union played an intermediary role in ending the Pak-Indo conflict by signing the Tashkent declaration in 1966. This event promoted process of gradual close relations between USSR and Pakistan.
During the period of decrease in political tension between the two states, realistic mutual relations start to develop. They have found the display in an establishment of stable trade and economic relations and development of social-cultural cooperation between two countries.
The basis of the process of all-round interaction has been incorporated due to signing of some bilateral agreements: technical and economic cooperation in searches of oil and gas (1961), an establishment of direct air communication between Moscow and Karachi (1963), deliveries of the Soviet agricultural machinery to Pakistan (1964), economic and technical cooperation in power, agrarian and communication spheres (1966), construction of Karachi Steel Mills (1968) as well as, later in 70's, of 600MW Guddu and 900MW Multan thermal power plants. Soviet Union also offered more than 20 heavy engineering & industrial projects but unfortunately this offer was turned down by General Zia Ul Haq regime.
Within the framework of the signed agreements the Soviet side started rendering assistance to Pakistan in training of skilled personnel in the field of geological survey, building and production of metallurgical complex 1500 students in 78 specialities were annually trained in Karachi Steel Mills' educational center. It helped gradually to eliminate Pakistan dependence on foreign experts in metallurgical sector. Pak- Soviet project of Karachi Steel Mills played an important role in establishing mutual understanding and interaction between people of two countries. Until now this metallurgical giant and remains the main symbol of fruitful, mutually beneficial Pakistan-Russian cooperation.
The close relations at human, humanitarian level, undoubtedly, were promoted also by signing of the first bilateral agreement for cultural and scientific cooperation at Rawalpindi in June 1965. The Soviet-Pakistan Friendship Society was set up in Moscow in 1966. All its activity has been directed on strengthening of friendship and mutual understanding, expansion of widespread cooperation and trust between the people of Soviet Union and Pakistan through their acquaintance with history, culture, economy and a modern life of people of both states.
The Pak - Soviet friendship Society was also formed in Karachi in late 70's. After some months the renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz became its President and held the post till his death. Annually these societies spent the solemn actions devoted to various significant dates and national holidays of the USSR and Pakistan. The basis of these public organisations was made on scientific and creative intelligentsia of two countries.
Active role in the activities of All-Union Society of Soviet-Pakistan Friendship was played by scientific research-scholars of Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of USSR (J.V.Gankovsky - from 1966 Vice-President and then as the permanent President of USSR-Pakistan Society, V.N.Moskalenko, V.J.Belokrenitsky, S.N.Kamenev, etc).
The research-scholars of other subdivisions of this institute (L_Gordon-Polonskoy,_._.Mukimdzhanovoy and others) conducted large research work on issues of history, politics and economics of Pakistan. The literary critics of institute studied, besides languages and literature, philosophy and culture of Pakistan. Difficult and tedious work on translation of a creative heritage of Pakistan poets, philosophers and writers (Allam Iqbal, F.A.Faiz, S.H.Manto, Hafeez Jalandhari, A.N.Kasmi, etc) was carried out. For acquaintance of Pakistani readers with Russian classics the translations of works of L.Tolstoy, A. Chekhov, M. Gorky in Urdu and other languages of Pakistan were done. Research on Pakistan was conducted in other educational and research institutes of Moscow.
In April 1968 during visit to Pakistan of Prime Minister of USSR A.N.Kosygin agreements on trade and economic, scientific and technical and cultural cooperation between two countries were signed. As a result Soviet side substantially expanded the economic assistance to Pakistan in realisation of industrial projects in the field of geological survey, automobile and railway transportation and communications.
In this period, due to efforts of diplomatic circles of two countries, the level of their foreign-policy contacts grew notably, bilateral co-operation activated between representatives of cultural organisations, journalists and scientists of two countries. For example, the scientific achievements of prominent Pakistani scientist-physicist Abdus Salam (1926-1996) were highly valued by his Soviet colleagues, and in 1971 he became the foreign member of Academy of Sciences of USSR.
Bilateral cultural relations extended. Pakistan often represented its films in the international film festivals in Moscow and Tashkent. In 1974 on a tour to USSR for the first time arrived National ensemble of song, dance and music of Pakistan. In 1974-1975 Pakistani spectators tremendously appreciated the performances of the Soviet circus, theatre of dolls and the folklore ensemble.
It is necessary to note, that the Soviet Union rendered Pakistan considerable help in preparation of engineers, doctors, economists, lawyers, physicists, teachers of Russian literature as well as other experts of top skills.
In the beginning it was the process of mutually beneficial trade and economic collaboration and close relations of two countries, however, it was slowed down due to intensifying of foreign-policy situation, related to the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan and entrance in Afghan territory of limited contingent of Soviet forces (1979). Pakistan also appeared engaged in the epicenter of global opposition of two world superpowers - USSR and USA. Pakistan's pro-American position undermined the fragile Pak-Soviet relations.
Nevertheless large joint projects, which had been started earlier, were not suspended by Soviet Union and Pakistan. In Soviet Friendship House in Karachi joint meetings, exhibitions and concerts devoted to national holidays and significant dates in public and cultural life of two countries were still conducted.
Only after the abolition of military regime in Pakistan (1988) and withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan (1989) there were favourable pre-conditions for improvement of Pakistan-Soviet, and with disintegration of the USSR (1991) - the Pakistan-Russian relations. The appearance in world geopolitics structure of new democratic Russia has been positively met by the Pakistan leadership and wide political circles of the country. For the first time an attempt to develop the relations on pragmatically, economically mutually beneficial basis, free from ideology and perception through a prism of relations with the third countries has been undertaken.
However due to Pak-Russian stereotype foreign policy approach of the «cold war» period in the relation of each other has not allowed them to promote far in this direction. Short-term official visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif to Russian Federation in April 1999 also did not develop a conclusion of mutual relations to a new level of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Meanwhile even in these circumstances the Pak-Russian diplomacy, public and academic circles of two countries did not stop attempts of developing meaningful dialogue for revealing optimum ways of bilateral relations and cooperation. Problems of Pak-Russian bilateral relations in view of new geopolitical circumstances in S.E.Asian region and in the world as a whole were discussed by Russian and Pakistani scientists, representatives of the concerned ministries, diplomatic and business circles of two countries.
The participants of these international forums focused their attention on the necessity of expansion and strengthening of Russian-Pakistani political, trade and economic relations, collaboration of two countries in area of science, culture and education. The Russian side, in particular, repeatedly suggested to extend cooperation in oil-and-gas and metallurgical sectors, to improve bilateral cooperation in sphere of power and agriculture, hi- technologies for production of state- of- the art products. Special attention was given to rendering assistance to Pakistan in preparation of highly skilled specialists in science and technology in technical institutes of Russia.
The efforts of Russian experts on Pakistan and orientlists directed to development of multi-sided mutual relations, was highly appreciated by Faiz Ahmed Faiz in his numerous performances both at international scientific forums and in Pakistani press, and also in personal conversations with the author of this article. He constantly called the Pakistani side to gain from Russian scientific research institutes which is known, by its value, « a golden valley of knowledge », for development of strategy of bilateral cooperation, specifying simultaneously on necessity of carrying out joint Russian-Pakistan scientific researches for this direction.
Signing in 1997 an agreement on scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between Russia and Pakistan was instrumental in the decision of this task. It has noticeably recovered bilateral scientific contacts. Development in scientific and technical cooperation of two countries started in the field of space communication and technologies. The Russian and Pakistani scientists began implementation of row of joint projects on research of space and use of satellite telecommunications.
Hanging above the world in the beginning of XXI century the threat of international terrorism has brought significant amendments in foreign policy of the majority of the countries, uniting them in joint struggle against international terrorism. Pakistan and Russia also have joined the international antiterrorist coalition that has opened opportunities for adjustment of bilateral interaction by them and in other directions of political, economic and welfare cooperation.
An official visit to the Russian Federation by President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf in February, 2003 has deduced relations of two countries from a condition of stagnation, having lifted them on a new level of "realistic mutual relations. At final press conference on results of the visit to the Russian Federation, Pervez Musharraf, in particular, declared that between two countries the «new era of friendship» had began and for its development both states «should take from the past all useful and bury all bad».
Activation of foreign policy contacts of two states, including their support to each other in such organisations as the Organisation of Islamic Conference and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation where Russia (2003) and Pakistan (2005) have been admitted as observers, has positively affected all spectrum of bilateral Pak-Russian cooperation. So, the tendency of growth of trade volume between two countries was outlined: in 2003 its total volume was 100 million dollars, in 2005 - 278 million, and in 2007 it exceeded 400 million dollars.
The important step in achieving the broad base mutual understanding and interaction between the two countries was taken by adopting Program of cooperation in the field of science, cultures and education. Practical realisation of concrete positions of this program was instrumental in overcoming negative stereotypes and biases existed between peoples of both countries.
Adherence of Islamabad and Moscow to the course of further development of bilateral relations was reconfirmed during an official visit of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov to Pakistan in April 2007. Russian Premier, in particular, emphasised, that Pakistan occupies an important place among foreign policy partners of Russia. Constructive interaction with this state on regional and universal affairs has a great value for Russian Federation».
Thus, we can note, that now for development of all-round dialogue between Russian Federation and Pakistan there exist favourable opportunities. The success on a way of achieving a mutually beneficial cooperation, as the lead analysis of mutual relations has shown, lies not only in joint efforts of official Russian and Pakistan diplomacy, but also in huge potential of the resources of «national diplomacy» and «the human capital by means of activation of direct contacts of people of two countries in the field of a science, culture, education, tourism and sports as well as various nongovernmental organisations (Association of Pakistani graduates from Russia and CIS, Pakistan-Russia Business council, Societies of friendship, youth, religious and female associations of two countries, etc).
Pakistan and Russia maintain and strengthen their political dialogue and exchange of views on such important issues as combating terrorism and strategic stability through bilateral working groups. Meetings of these groups took place in Moscow and, in turn, in Islamabad.
Pakistan and Russia need stability and security in the region as well as worldwide. Both countries stand for equality and justice, interethnic and interreligious harmony in relations between members of the international community. New horizons are to be explored. Nowadays the existing opportunities allow to develop a better mutual understanding.