Pakistan talk on buying arms from Russia ‘Wishful Thinking’

NEW DELHI: Russia does not plan to sell fighter jets, air defence systems and tanks to Pakistan, people aware of the matter told ET, dismissing a recent statement by Pakistan’s defence minister on the proposed purchase as “wishful thinking”.

They said the statement made by the Pakistan minister in a recent interview was mere posturing, on the lines of Pakistan foreign minister’s claim in February of Russian support at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary, which turned out to be false.

“This is yet another case of wishful thinking. There has been no discussion about Russian intentions to sell such defence equipment to India’s western neighbour,” said a Russian official, who did not wish to be identified. Experts said that Pakistan’s defence minister may have wished to engage in signalling to Russia at a time when Pakistan is facing the wrath of its erstwhile benefactor, the United States.


Last week, Pakistan’s defence minister, Khurram Dastgir Khan, who was in Moscow for the International Security Conference, had told a Russian media outlet that Pakistan was in direct talks with the Russian Federation for the procurement of sophisticated military hardware, including air defence systems, fighter jets and battle tanks. Russia had earlier sold a few military helicopters to Pakistan.

The people cited earlier said that Khan’s interview was similar to the spin given by Pakistan’s foreign minister in February during the FATF plenary that Russia was backing Pakistan. On the contrary, Russia had supported India in the November plenary that put Pakistan in the ‘Grey List’.