Russia has lifted its embargo on arms supplies to Pakistan and is holding talks on supplying Islamabad with combat helicopters, the head of state-owned Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, said Monday, Russia’s official ITAR-TASS news agency reported.
“Such a decision has been taken. We are holding talks on supplying the helicopters,” Chemezov said, adding that the negotiations were about Russian Mi-35 Hind attack helicopters.
Russia has long been the largest supplier of arms to India, which is the world’s top arms buyer.
But Moscow’s move to supply Islamabad came as New Delhi is seeking to modernise its armed forces’ ageing hardware and has recently chosen to buy arms from Israel, France, Britain and the United States.
Leading Russian defence commentator Pavel Felgenhauer said the lifting of the embargo that had been in force since the Soviet era marked a sea change in Russian policy on arms sales.
“This is an important, key change in Russian policy in the region,” he told the media
The Russian gunships will not only increase the versatility of Pakistan Army Aviation forces but will also provide a much needed boost in firepower, necessary for the war against terror being fought against terror outfits in the volatile FATA region. The Hind was used extensively during the Soviet adventure in Afghanistan.
