ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: A dozen Russian MI-17 military transport helicopters that were to be delivered last year will arrive in Pakistan this month as Moscow has finally got the go-ahead from President Vladimir Putin, well-placed sources told Dawn on Friday.
“The transaction would complete by the end of this month,” a senior Pakistani diplomat in the know of the first Russian defence sale to Pakistan in six years told Dawn on Thursday.
In July last year, Islamabad successfully concluded an agreement with Moscow for purchasing 16 Russian MI-17 helicopters — 12 new and four refurbished. The total contract was reported to be worth $50 million.
Pakistan received four refurbished helicopters in June but delivery of a dozen new ones was delayed due to New Delhi’s pressure on Moscow.
Reportedly, New Delhi held back its payments to Russia against arms purchases to block the Russian sale to Pakistan. However, Islamabad finally managed to secure assurances of delivery of the helicopters recently.
MI-17 is a dual-purpose helicopter used for transportation of manpower, with a load capacity of 3,000kg. Pakistan bought a dozen MI-17 helicopters from Russia in 1996.
