Russian defence minister arrives in Pakistan to discuss defence cooperation

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived on a day-long visit to Pakistan on Thursday which is aimed at discussing bilateral defence cooperation with the Pakistani leadership.

During his short stay in Islamabad, the Russian defence minister would meet Prime Minister Nawaz at his official residence in the federal capital and discuss issues related to security and defence cooperation between Pakistan and the Russia.

Both sides are expected to sign an important memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation. This will be the first visit to Pakistan by a Russian defence minister in recent past.

Read: Pakistan, Russia to enhance cooperation

Russia and Pakistan have lately been working on enhancing defence cooperation and are believed to have already covered a lot of ground. Exchange of visits by military commanders in recent years is an indication of progress achieved in this regard.

India’s decision to enter into tighter embrace with the US had prompted Russia to rethink its defence relationship with Pakistan.

The visit also comes against the backdrop of reports that Moscow had given go-ahead for sale of MI-35 helicopters to Pakistan, which is interested in purchasing up to 20 helicopters.

Russia acknowledges Pakistan's efforts countering terrorism

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Asif held formal talks at the Ministry of Defence in Rawalpindi.

Read: Deal to sell MI-35 helicopters 'politically approved', says Russian envoy

Official sources told Dawn that during the meeting, Pakistan apprised the Russian defence minister about recent security situation in the region including the country's fight against terrorists and post-withdrawal of Nato-US forces from Afghanistan and the situation with India at the Line of Control (LoC).

Both the ministers agreed that bilateral cooperation between Russia and Pakistan in the field of security and defence needs to be further enhanced.

Shoigu lauded Pakistan's efforts in countering terrorism and said Russia acknowledged sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and its security forces.

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Pakistani

Nov 20, 2014 02:20pm

Indians , comment plz , you are always staring at us.

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Rishi

Nov 20, 2014 02:27pm

The Russians are putting pressure on India to buy their weapons. This visit is clearly aimed to create leeway before Putin arrives in New Delhi. Let us see how Indian Guv reacts to Russian blackmailing.

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rabz

Nov 20, 2014 02:28pm

Well done Russia n pakistan! Stick together! And be successful!

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Reader

Nov 20, 2014 02:33pm

Will he meet Chief of Army staff? If not why was the visit arranged when General Raheel was out of the country?

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XORO

Nov 20, 2014 02:34pm

Russian weapons are old and outdated,India has done right to avoid their weapons and moving towards France and Israel, who have innovative technology. Pakistan must not trust this....this is a trap and Pakistan should avoid this.World know the economic condition of Russia and they have to sell their pre contemporary products to keep alive their economy.

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Indian Christian

Nov 20, 2014 02:38pm

With Putin's visit to India next month, Russia - Pakistan Relations will come to an end. Modi know better how to deal with people than any of Pakistani ministers. Its just a matter of time.

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Zombie

Nov 20, 2014 02:39pm

Russia has the right to do whatever it wants to do. We deal with the Americans too. But right now Russia is cornered at the global stage and what Russia is doing is not anti India but anti US. Russia knows the importance and hold of India at the world stage. You will know once Putin arrives in India next month.

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alladitta

Nov 20, 2014 02:42pm

Show me your money and you get whatever you want to buy. Money money money, my dear Honey.

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Naseem

Nov 20, 2014 02:52pm

It is a good move, we should have good relationship with all the big powers, and not get attached to one, as we have done in the past.

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Adam Khan

Nov 20, 2014 02:53pm

Welcome to pakistan honorable defence minster. The cooperation show be increased to educational, cultural and economic levels. historically, Pakistan shares more with Russia than with USA. Long-Live Pakistan-Russia friendship.

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Truth

Nov 20, 2014 02:58pm

Pakistan has learned its big lesson for joining alliance with US. It has suffered terrorism and US aid, I wont even call it aid but 0000.1% compensation the country has suffered economically excluding civillians killed. Terrorism only happened after US alliance. Pakistan was better of backing off. US could not attack nuclear nation but only give sanctions which could have made Pakistan stronger with help of Allah!

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SHR

Nov 20, 2014 03:05pm

Great news.... This is the revival of Pakistan Russia relationship afte a long time. There were ups and downs in the relationship but in Musharraf's period, things got normalized and even Military of Pakistan and Russia, jointly worked together at the Nigerian Air Force Base. This is a much needed collaboration and will definitely help both countries in various aspects. All the best Pakistan and Russia.

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edwardian

Nov 20, 2014 03:07pm

A natural tilt. Seeing geo-political situation and location vis-a- vis Pakistan, China and Russia, this should have been ages ago.

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Rebel

Nov 20, 2014 03:21pm

World is changing.... so are the Country Relations. If India acts responsibly, the future relates with ASIA..... Can Indian mentality change for the better for ASIA!!!!!!

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Nov 20, 2014 03:23pm

Russia will get a big shock when pakistan first asks them to lend money so they can buy their weapons!

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Akhtar

Nov 20, 2014 03:34pm

Pakistan needs good relations with both the U.S. and Russia. Russia has never betrayed Pakistan but the US has on many occasions. It is time to move forward and work with the next superpower China and Russia and create defence pact.

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Pakistani

Nov 20, 2014 03:39pm

@Indian Christian you don't have anything else to do, all the day long u keenly looking for any news regarding Pakistan,

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indian

Nov 20, 2014 03:53pm

this is a strategically timed Russian visit, just before Putin arrives in India. Im sure Putin will say to Modi... buy all your weapons from us, or Im going to start selling to Pak.

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Rizwan

Nov 20, 2014 03:54pm

This is a very good sign Pakistan should have defence ties with Russia .

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pmrao

Nov 20, 2014 03:58pm

first Russians don't have money .if Pakistan thinks they have money then they can go to Russia and pay the money and wait for them to deliver the goods.by the time they deliver the cost will go up by 3 or 4 times. why india stopped doing business with Russia?. except for oil nobody goes to Russia. best of luck pakistan

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Jaan Bhittani

Nov 20, 2014 04:00pm

Pakistan & India,, both are buyers and the sellers always approaches buyers so no wonder..

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junaid

Nov 20, 2014 04:02pm

Russia will sell its weapons to anyone who has the money to buy it. India doesn't lose its sleep over this. Azaad mulk, azaad policy.

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Pakistani

Nov 20, 2014 04:05pm

@Rebel no

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Laddoo

Nov 20, 2014 04:10pm

@GT Stop spreading false information. No country has spare money after the last banking crisis to dole it out to anyone. Not US, Not China and Not Russia. US pays Pakistan for the transit route to supply NATO troops in Afghanistan. It also cheaply sells slightly older technology to Pak army so that it can fight America's battles with the Taliban. Other than this, Pakistan relies on whatever exports it can do at this time plus FOREX from overseas Pakistanis. Rest is thru loans from either WB or IMF. Once Pakistan stops relying on WB and IMF, all things will settle in place. Pakistan should have good relations with Russia. Why not? Pakistan should also have good relations with China and US.

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vcbhutani

Nov 20, 2014 04:12pm

Have the Russians forgotten Pakistan’s role against the Soviets in Afghanistan during 1979-89? V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, 20 Nov 2014, 1642 IST

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Kamal Gupta

Nov 20, 2014 04:19pm

Has the Pak state closed down the schools for training Chechen jihadis?

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Azmeen

Nov 20, 2014 04:22pm

@Indian Christian Really, Moodiness??????

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alexander

Nov 20, 2014 04:25pm

Pakistan has to beg money from America to buy mi 35 helicopters

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Prasad

Nov 20, 2014 04:27pm

This is good! Better ties w Russia can only help to strengthen the regional peace...

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muhammad

Nov 20, 2014 04:28pm

@GT As India has been giving them the same shock for the last many years therefore Russians are looking for other buyers than Indians only True Han !

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Hasnain Ahmed

Nov 20, 2014 04:31pm

@XORO Old is always gold.

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Faisal Bajwa

Nov 20, 2014 04:36pm

Russian weaponry is where NS.gov has opportunity to get lots of kickbacks. Since USA has given Pakistan a non NATO ally status, hence most of the U.S. arms are either free or at a very low cost and cones through legal channels so no room for kickbacks. These Russian choppers are an upgrade of the stinger trophies of the Afgan mujahideen era. Not sure about India but this trip is for sure going to offend our ally Ukraine. Nothing wrong in good ties with Russia but NS is upto no good.

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Indo Russian

Nov 20, 2014 04:39pm

So it goes like this. Beg money from AMericaan and Buy russian weapons. will american allow this? Think about it buddy.

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Indo Russian

Nov 20, 2014 04:41pm

First of all did you get all consignemnet of your F-16 ? Did you pay the full money. ? I heard from Washington DC that you guys don't even have money to complete the existing deal ? forget about future deals with russians.

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KHAN

Nov 20, 2014 04:42pm

Great Move Russia and Pakistan !!!!

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Arvind

Nov 20, 2014 04:42pm

Look At the Pic , How great Co-ordination Mr PUTIN have with Army PERSONALS

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Akbaruddin

Nov 20, 2014 04:43pm

This is Russia not US. It will ask money first and show products later.

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Jai

Nov 20, 2014 04:43pm

"India’s decision to enter into tighter embrace with the US had prompted Russia to rethink its defence relationship with Pakistan".........Did the Russians say that or did the writer cook it up????

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chetan

Nov 20, 2014 04:49pm

This is a game of Russia just before Putin visit. India knows importance of Russia and it has very deep relations with Russia so such one day visit is just a momentory thing.....

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Aisha

Nov 20, 2014 05:05pm

NOw all pakistanis problems would be solved. Thank God the russians came...at last...

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indian

Nov 20, 2014 05:06pm

Yes Pakistan should now buy from them .. while India concentrate on making things in India than importing .. please use your Forex reserve & buy .. Russia always try to sell at higher price to india .. since india trying to not to budge on these pressure they should sell to pakistan .. good move by russia

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Chinese weapons maker

Nov 20, 2014 05:09pm

When you buy Chinese weapons you buy Russian fakes so what is new ?

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ali

Nov 20, 2014 05:32pm

@GT you mean the money india doesn't have to feed its half a billion starving population and about a quarter of a billion that doesn't even have access to a toilet or maybe the world's highest aids population

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Dr B.N. Anand

Nov 20, 2014 05:36pm

It is a flat world. Every thing on table. You can go for it if you can afford it or pay the cash. It is all business relationship and nothing political in it. Trade relations are more bonding than any political one. So learn this and introspect.

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SOHAN

Nov 20, 2014 05:40pm

Hope our pakistan friends will also comment next month news when Putin visits Indian. :-)

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dawn

Nov 20, 2014 05:47pm

This was past due.

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Irfan Baloch

Nov 20, 2014 05:48pm

Indians commenting here are saying that they dont really care about this visit. looking at the number of comments and the choice of their words ... we must believe them

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Ghani K

Nov 20, 2014 05:49pm

Good move by Pakistan. Why not have good relation with Russia ? To maintain balance, Pakistan should further enhance contacts with Russia & China. Indians have found a new friends, US & Israel.

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UncleSAM

Nov 20, 2014 06:00pm

Russian defence minister visiting Pakistan, so as per Russia that's the only way they could put pressure on Mr. Modi. I'm not interested to see how Mr. Modi reacts to this rather I want to see how US reacts to this. Looks like Pakistan is selected as the play ground by these military giants to play their game :)

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PatakaGuddi

Nov 20, 2014 06:00pm

At this point, I only feel bad for Pakistan. Russia is not the superpower it used to be. Its facing its worst economic challenge in years. The west is completely boycotting it. By west, i don't mean only US. But even UK, Australia, Canada, France and most of Europe, etc are keeping their distance. Russia basically needs money quite urgently. Its going to sell Pakistan the same sub-standard products it tried to sell to India. Despite good relations with Russia, we chose American and Israeli military aid because we are aware of the quality of Russian weapons. So instead of celebrating, it will be better if you know what you're getting into. This deal will bring you more loss than gain.

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Common man

Nov 20, 2014 06:07pm

Wellcome Rusia defence minister Well done Nawaz Sharif Pakistan Zindabad

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ahmedj

Nov 20, 2014 06:09pm

@SOHAN "Hope our pakistan friends will also comment next month news when Putin visits Indian. :-)" Yes probably we will but at DAWN not at some dusk :-)

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ShahJI

Nov 20, 2014 06:18pm

Please go ahead with Russia. Putin is a man of his word and a great leader. Pakistan will benefit far more with Russia than the Americans.

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AVMPolpot

Nov 20, 2014 06:22pm

Russians SELL armaments and Pakistan is used to getting them gift wrapped. Need I say more?

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Ata Bangash

Nov 20, 2014 06:28pm

We must cultivate better relationship with Russia. But we must not be playing somebody else game. We should never work against USA or Russia.

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True Indian

Nov 20, 2014 06:28pm

Let's not thrash Pak and instead concentrate on cleaning the garbage in India.

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Hassan

Nov 20, 2014 06:37pm

@vcbhutani : “Nations have no permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests.”

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Zak

Nov 20, 2014 06:42pm

Need I say more, so eloquently put, music to our ears. "'Both the ministers agreed that bilateral cooperation between Russia and Pakistan in the field of security and defence needs to be further enhanced. Shoigu lauded Pakistan's efforts in countering terrorism and said Russia acknowledged sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan and its security forces."

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Zak

Nov 20, 2014 06:44pm

@GT ...can you only come up with that! I refer you to a newspaper named after your country, where the dire economic situation of India is outlined and the Russian annoyance on Indian non payment for arms is evident. Then you talk about Pakistan not paying on time. uS never complained so far.

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Dr. Abdul Manan

Nov 20, 2014 06:45pm

Pakistani Govt. is really making sensible and wise decision. We need good relations with China, Russia and America. If we did this for 10 years, it will be really very good. Especially, relationships with Russia must be strengthen militarily & technologically.

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Zak

Nov 20, 2014 06:48pm

@pmrao I have lost count of the Indian excuses, but you all know the point made.

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Ali-Indian

Nov 20, 2014 07:00pm

you need to double check on pakistani double standards which is inherent to pakistan because unlike Americans Russians dont tolerate double standards!!

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athrajatt

Nov 20, 2014 07:06pm

Reading the comments from indians is far more entertaining than reading the article. I can see why many indiand are aspiring film producers with their imagination.

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Amit

Nov 20, 2014 07:08pm

@rabz its known that US has been helping Pakistan financially. In this case I wonder who will be helping whom? Is Pakistan is planning to get financial aid from US and use it to buy weapons from Russia!! Hum...... Something is not adding up, is it?

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Jakoji

Nov 20, 2014 07:11pm

Russians are our friends.. but they are free to make a choice.. When we could be friends with the US, who threatened to bomb us during 1971 war; this is nothing!!

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Ghani K

Nov 20, 2014 07:12pm

Hope purchase of MI-35 helicopters from Russia is transparent. Based on previous experience, contract with France to build submarines during Zardari's rule, had under hand deals, money was siphoned to 'middle'men. Let us hope this is a fair deal.

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amjad islam

Nov 20, 2014 07:14pm

Russians are more credible than USA in time of crisis.... !!!! anyway i m big fan of Putin and his attitude to other big leaders in the world.

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Maloom

Nov 20, 2014 07:17pm

@Dr. Abdul Manan; Also India..

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Laddoo

Nov 20, 2014 07:27pm

For the first time Pakistanis are learning to diversify their international relations instead of just relying on one or two. Judging from Indian comments here, they don't like this a bit. If Indians don't like what Pakistan is doing diplomatically then it must be good for Pakistan.

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KKDG

Nov 20, 2014 07:47pm

So pakistan is ready to buy russian arms using the aide money of US, EU, IMF, world bank etc.,....

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Ali-Indian

Nov 20, 2014 07:55pm

Russian aircraft Corporation and Hindustan aeronautics build all russian aircraft including Mi-35 and T-50(fifth gen stealth) aircraft in India so what are the pakistani's happy about

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shafqatmir

Nov 20, 2014 08:17pm

@Indian Christian you all indians make us laugh, you think you own the world

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shafqatmir

Nov 20, 2014 08:19pm

@alexander what a jealousy, many countries do this to keep their economies afloat

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shafqatmir

Nov 20, 2014 08:23pm

@Indo Russian jf-17 thunder is f-16 and is locally made, times will tell how good it is, so have the trials

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Shawn Peter

Nov 20, 2014 08:26pm

Pure business visit for MI - 35 birds, nothing to do with any "alignment".

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Ahmed Shaikh

Nov 20, 2014 08:26pm

@Indian Christian Bigotry is evident from your comment. Why are you so offended by the Russian minister's visit to Pakistan?

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shafqatmir

Nov 20, 2014 08:27pm

@alexander you have any proof, sir

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Shawn Peter

Nov 20, 2014 09:10pm

Nearly 60 countries already purchased MI 35 birds, including USA.

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Vilander

Nov 20, 2014 10:24pm

Brother Russia is doing what he has to do to survive, India is not strong enough to help Russia out of its current predicament but strong enough to trust them through this period. Russia has its national interests, India has its that does not mean we can not do business together.

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Paki

Nov 21, 2014 04:09pm

@Indian Christian no matter what lollipop you showed to Putin now, Putin still have to collaborate with Pakistan now, cause without this, they know how to deal with position, so it's over now if million deals in india putin does know how to make million deal somewhere else and putin never hesitate once he decided to do :D

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Ahmed Ali

Nov 21, 2014 04:32pm

Have to say this is not a good move.Whenever I think about Russian goods I am reminded of the Soviet era fridge my grandfather got from Russia.Was like a giant box of solid steel and did not have the freezing power to keep ice cream cold.We should certainly develop good diplomatic and trade relations with Russia but we should not buy weaponry from them as it could compromise the safety of our soldiers and the strength of our military.

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