lt=”Pakistan in Talks With Russia on Buying Air Defense Systems – Defense Minister” />
The Minister of defence of Pakistan hurr Dastgir Khan were discussing the satellite issues of the Moscow-Islamabad cooperation, and the procurement of Russian equipment Pakistan.
Purchases of su-35 planes, air defense systems and T-90 tanks
Moscow (Sputnik) – hurr Dastgir Khan confirmed to the news Agency sputnik that Islamabad is negotiating with Moscow on the purchase of air defense systems, adding that Pakistan was interested in this weapon.
“The air defense system is a different kind of weapon, we are interested. We are very interested in a very wide range of Russian military technology. We are in talks [on the air defense systems] and after we complete negotiations, we will be able to voice them,” said Khan in an interview.
Pakistan and Russia may conclude an agreement with Islamabad purchase of Russian su-35 aircraft “in the next few years,” the negotiations on this issue are in the early stages,Han said Satellite.
In February last year, a senior military official in Pakistan, told the news Agency sputnik that Islamabad has no plans to buy su-35.
“As for the su-35: it can be in the coming years we will be able to reach this point, we are at the beginning of negotiations,” the Minister said, responding to a question.
Pakistan is interested in buying Russian tanks T-90, as a long-term commitment, not a single purchase, the defence Minister of Pakistan hurr Dastgir Khan said in an interview Thursday the Satellite.
“We are interested in T-90 tanks and it will not be a one-time purchase, but it will be a long-term commitment,” said Khan.
The situation in Afghanistan
As Islamabad and Moscow are interested in stable and democratic Afghanistan, as it will positively affect security in Central Asia, – said the Minister.
“We respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan. Stability in Afghanistan is important for Pakistan to have the opportunity to develop their own prosperous future, access to the Russian market, for example, by land. A democratic and stable Afghanistan is in the deep interests of both Russia and Pakistan,” said Khan.
Pakistan supports Russia’s efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region and urged other regional and world powers to jointly develop a plan to end the violence and end terrorism in Afghanistan, according to the official.
“We support the Russian regional approach to Afghanistan, and we hope that not only Russia but also China, Iran and, of course, the United States can sit together at the table and consider how we can achieve internal peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” he added.
The Minister also praised the new approach to the Afghan leadership when it comes to ending the protracted conflict in the country.
“One positive step that has occurred recently is a genuine approach of President [Ashraf] Ghani when he said he no longer wants to win the war, and to put an end to the conflict. To win the war militaristic American approach, but now the Afghan approach closer to Pakistan’s position on this issue. The top priority of Pakistan towards Afghanistan is the establishment of a stable peaceful democratic neighbor,” – said Khan.
Afghanistan has long suffered from political, social, and instability in the security sphere due to the activity of the radical movement “Taliban” and “Islamic state” terrorist group. To solve this problem, Moscow hosted a series of conferences for peace in a country devastated by war.
Islamabad and Moscow have agreed to strengthen defense cooperation in the field of intelligence
Islamabad hopes to expand military cooperation with Russia in all fields, including military training, procurement of equipment and sharing of intelligence information, said the Minister of defence of Pakistan hurr Dastgir Khan said in an interview Thursday the Satellite.
“In defence, we signed an historic unprecedented Russia-Pakistan agreement on defence in 2014. As a result, we managed a joint military exercise, Pakistan has purchased Russian Mi-35 and now we’re looking at a much broader range of cooperation in the field of defense. From the point of view of training of Pakistani officers coming to Russia, and Russian officers are in Pakistani facilities for training. We are now discussing a wider range of military exercises, we look at a wide range of military equipment and exchange of intelligence,” said Khan on the sidelines of the Moscow conference on international security (MCIS).
The official praised the current level of cooperation in the sphere of defense industry, noting that in future, Islamabad hopes to expand the variety of military vehicles, which Russia sells to Pakistan.
“We are committed to a great future in certain areas in which Russia has great knowledge, such as tanks and air defense systems,” said Khan.
Although Pakistan and Russia had disagreements in the past on the Afghan crisis, countries have already reached mutual understanding on regional and international issues, according to the Minister.
“Of course, we have the story of the Afghan war in which we were on different sides of the fence, but now in the second decade of the 21st century ends, we will be able to look at the reality of the world with different eyes, and I’m glad to say that Pakistan and Russia largely agree on major international issues like Afghanistan, like drug trafficking, the situation in the middle East. We now look at virtually all aspects of defence and goodwill between our leadership,” said Khan.
The official said that Islamabad is grateful to Russia for support of its accession to the Shanghai cooperation organization (SCO).
SCO is a political, economic and military intergovernmental organization established by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan joined the SCO in 2001, while India and Pakistan became members in June 2017.
*ISIS, also known as Islamic state, ISIS, ISIL is a terrorist group banned in Russia
Sourse: sputniknews.com
