RUSSIA

Russia lifts arms embargo on Pakistan

Russia has lifted its embargo on arms supplies to Pakistan and is holding talks on supplying Islamabad with combat 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.

Russia said the lifting of the embargo, in force since the Soviet era, marked a sea change in policy, until now focused on India. —

Russia seeks China and India as partners of emerging energy alliance

  

The move, if it materialises would feed into Russia’s discernable strategic shift towards the East, especially after the Ukrainian crisis, which has sent Moscow’s ties with the Atlantic Alliance in a tailspin. 

Leveraging its position as a global energy supplier, Russia has already identified China as one of its core partners — its inclination evident in the $ 400 billion gas deal that it has signed with Beijing. 

Mi-35 sale to Pakistan

Though focused on the big picture, Mr. Rogozin’s talks did address the controversy generated by the proposed sales of Russian Mi-35 helicopters to Pakistan. A section of Russian media is reporting that the transfers of the attack helicopters would not undermine stability in South Asia as a chance of a full-fledged war between the two nuclear neighbours is now inconceivable. 

A diplomatic source told The Hindu that cash strapped Russia, apprehending an economic squeeze from members of the NATO alliance is looking at diversifying its oil and military exports. 

The visiting official, well regarded in diplomatic circles, as a member of Mr. Putin’s inner circle, said that a Joint Study Group would be formed that would analyse the possibility of India’s partnership with the Eurasian Economic Union — a body that is widely viewed, as Russia’s riposte to western led trade blocs.

In his interview, Mr. Rogozin acknowledged that going beyond a buyer seller relationship, India as approaching Russia as partner in co-developing weapons, which include joint forays in making a fifth generation fighter jet and a multi-role transport aircraft. The Russian official said that negotiations on establishing two more nuclear reactors in Kudankulum are underway, to fulfil an ambitious plan to set up 14 to 16 Russian designed nuclear power units in India.

India, Russia begin naval drills in Sea of Japan

India and Russia have commenced naval manoeuvres in the Sea of Japan which coincide with their growing energy ties that could, in the future, include transit of oil through the Arctic route.

A Defence Ministry statement has said the two countries, which are fielding an impressive array of warships and aircraft during the Indra-14 exercise, will work together to check piracy, render assistance to ships in distress and counter the threat from submarines. They will also coordinate missile strikes on land targets.

Russia’s guided missile cruiser Varyag and destroyer Bystry are participating in the exercise, in which the Navy is showcasing INS Shivalik, a modern stealth frigate, and INS Ranvijay, a Rajput class destroyer.

Ahead of the exercise, Russian publication Nezavismaya Gazeta , reported that India’s participation in the Sakhalin-1 project for the development of an oil and gas field, as well as the planned shipment of natural resources from the Arctic, imparted relevance to the manoeuvres.

It added that India and Russia were involved in a joint development of phosphate deposits on the Kola Peninsula and potassium-magnesium salts in the Perm region — a hefty total investment of $2.5 billion.

Russia moots mega energy pipeline project with India

Close on the heels of the recently concluded $400-billion mega gas pipeline deal between Russia and China, Moscow wants to work on a pipeline to India “through the Himalayas” that could become the “biggest-ever energy project in history,” Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadakin told The Hindu .

On the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brazil last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the possibility of building another pipeline along the route of the planned TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India), which would carry hydrocarbons to India.

The project would take an estimated five years and approximately $40 billion to construct. “We are planning to examine feasibility of the Indian initiative to construct a land pipeline which would run from Russia’s southern border to India either along the projected TAPI route or through the Himalayas,” Mr. Kadakin said.

On Sunday, The Hindu reported exclusively on India’s plans to revive its pipeline projects of IPI (Iran-Pakistan-India) and TAPI, with a pilot project for gas to Pakistan.

Hopes for the projects to be cleared have brightened by the prospects of India-Pakistan talks, as well as the possibility of a breakthrough in Iran’s nuclear talks with the U.S. and other countries. “If implemented, such a pipeline, now seemingly futuristic, would be the biggest ever energy project in history, which would enhance India’s energy security,” Mr. Kadakin said.

Mr. Kadakin marked out defence ties, valued at $35 billion and 22 future Russian-designed nuclear projects as the areas for India-Russia future cooperation. Mr. Modi has also invited Mr. Putin to visit the Kudankulam nuclear project when he travels to India in December for the annual India-Russia summit to be held in New Delhi.