There was a time when the slogan was Hindi Russi bhai bahi (India, Russia are brothers). For defense hardware India would look to Soviet Union, Pakistan was closely aligned to the US for defense and economic cooperation. During the 1971 war Pakistan looked up to the US. The tables have turned. Now Russia is in Pakistan with their mechanized infantry unit for the first ever military exercise between the two countries. As India joins hands with the US, and intensifies its defense cooperation with that country, the alignments have seen a sea change.
“A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak—Russian joint exercise from September 24 to October 10,” army spokesman Lt—Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted along with some photographs of the Russian and Pakistan troops.
“The joint military drills are aimed at bolstering and building military cooperation between the two countries,” the statement said ahead of the opening ceremony on Saturday
THE HINDU
The objective of deepening military cooperation is a major departure from the past; Pakistan is coming to terms with a new ally and the world is witnessing changing patterns on the geo-political map, wherein China, Russia, Pakistan are defining a new world order. As India gets closer to the western powers, China, Pakistan’s old ally has remained a constant, now Pakistan is building bridges with Russia.
The south east Asian countries look to their old ally US as China flexes its muscle in the region. North Korea remains a threat to peace in south east Asia. North Korea sees China as its ally, although the former has angered China recently.
What final shape would emerge on the geo political map remains to be seen. These are times of rapid changes and nothing is cut and dried.
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