Pakistan’s statement describing Moscow as a 'natural ally' in energy & economy termed baseless

Pakistan’s statement which described Russia a “natural ally” in energy and economy appears to be baseless and motivated according to informed sources.

Pakistan on Thursday issued a statement describing Russia as “natural ally” in energy and economy following a high-level meeting in Moscow. The statement also went on to claim that the Russian Deputy PM has promised cooperation in the infrastructure sector on the basis of President Vladimir Putin’s directive.

Contrarily, the Russian government statement had no such mention. “Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk met in Moscow with Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Syed Tariq Fatemi and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan to discuss topical issues pertaining to the development of Russian-Pakistani trade and economic cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats,” read the Russian government statement.


Moscow-based sources told ET that Pakistan quoting Russian Deputy PM Overchuk on possibilities of cooperation in rail, cargo, and steel mill cooperation with Pakistan as per Putin’s directive is baseless. Sources told ET that no such commitment was given by Moscow to Pakistan. The statement appears to be motivated and aimed at creating misinformation.

It may be recalled that Pakistan in the past has been guilty of issuing such baseless statements involving its ties with Russia. Since the Ukraine war Pakistan has made very little purchases of Russian oil and has been involved in supplying ammunition to Ukraine.