There may be significant tensions between India and Pakistan, but their respective ambassadors to Russia were each given favorable coverage in the Russian media over the last few days. Each expounded on the excellent relations their country has with Russia, and on prospects for future cooperation.
RT carried an interview with India’s ambassador to Moscow Vinay Kumar, on Aug. 13, in which he stressed that “there is definitely a positive chemistry between [Russian President Putin and Indian Prime Minister Modi]. They have met many times; they keep regularly speaking on the phone with each other.”
Meanwhile, Sputnik interviewed Pakistan’s Ambassador to Moscow Muhammad Khalid Jamali, who emphasized that “the relations between Russia and Pakistan are on a positive trajectory.” Asked about Pakistan’s desire to join the BRICS (India reportedly vetoed their application this year), Jamali said: “For BRICS, we believe that we are an important member of South Asia, and our participation in BRICS would be beneficial not only for our country, but for the BRICS member as well. And I am sure and I hope that BRICS would be devoid of any politics.”
Jamali added that Pakistan, a nation of 240 million, “has a very geostrategic location. We are at the crossroads of Middle East, West Asia and Southeast Asia. And in order to derive the benefits of connectivity, we are a natural corridor of President Putin’s vision of International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). In that regard, Pakistan can play a pivotal role in enhancing the development, socio-economic development of the entire region.… We would like to connect with this region. We want to rekindle the old Silk Route between this region and our Indus River civilization.”
The INSTC is a flagship major infrastructure project linking India’s west coast by sea to Iran, and from there north to Russia by rail. Russia recently invited Pakistan to join the INSTC, which Islamabad accepted, thus bringing Pakistan into a working relationship with India around a major infrastructure development project.
