Military officers to get training in Russia

E-Paper | June 16, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani military officers will receive training in Russian Federation military institutes under a recent agreement signed between the two countries.

The deal underscores Pakistan’s increasing reliance on Russia for its military needs amid strained relations with the US. It was signed earlier this week during a visit by Russian Deputy Defence Minister Col Gen Alexander Fomin.

The agreement comes as local media reported the US has stopped financing military training in the US for Pakistani soldiers — a step that Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed called “wrong and counterproductive.”

Mr Hussain, chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee, said the US is repeating past mistakes through failed policy of trying to bully and browbeat Pakistan with such short-sighted sanctions.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2018

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anand

Aug 12, 2018 09:27am

Good Luck.

Recommend 0

Zak

Aug 12, 2018 09:30am

The consequences of US failed policy are being seen in real time. But they are to Pakistan advantage. Pakistani officers have trained at US , British, Australian, Chinese Institutes already and Now Russian. The knowledge gained will be comprehensive and all round. Making Pakistan armed forces a formidable fighting force , trained by the best.

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Old News

Aug 12, 2018 10:28am

One way another, training won't stop

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karam

Aug 12, 2018 10:46am

Stand on your own legs then no one can twist or influence you.

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RAja Raman

Aug 12, 2018 10:49am

Best wishes for the new friendship. Hope it's long term and not need based.

Recommend 0

Aug 12, 2018 11:12am

Excellent..Russia was once defeated by Pakistan and Russia respects.

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Tino

Aug 12, 2018 11:18am

Pakistan should cut all NATO supplies and diplomatic ties with US and let US take care of Afghanistan from another way. US and it’s leadership need a lesson now and it’s high time

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Javed

Aug 12, 2018 11:31am

Russia offers world class training, Pakistan should avail their expertise in the matter.

Recommend 0

Aug 12, 2018 12:41pm

And Russian will charge for this training unlike USA

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Raj

Aug 12, 2018 01:05pm

How do you expect US to continue traning when Russia is giving you the same.?

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Khanababa

Aug 12, 2018 01:14pm

No more blackmailing from USA...

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random

Aug 12, 2018 01:24pm

They will have to learn Russian first.

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Shaukat Ali Khan

Aug 12, 2018 01:26pm

Brilliant.

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Raj

Aug 12, 2018 02:09pm

Globally alliances are changing. Every friendship or alliance is an opportunist alliance and nothing is permanant. As India is taking its co-operation with the US, Russia is aliging with Pakistan. And as the US is cooperating with INdia, Pakistan is aliginign with China and Russia. There is nothing wrong in it. But one Pakistan should not falsely assume that, Russia is seriously interested in alliance with Pakistna and also pakistan should not falsely think that, it has won the war with India as Russia is now with Pakistan. As said earlier, nothing is permanant and globally all are opportunisic countries and nothing more than this. That is all.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Aug 12, 2018 02:41pm

Great move by the Pak army. Keep it up and hang on tough. Pakistan, Zindabaad. Land of six seasons and brave people of Pakistan, Paeendabaad.

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SUMAIRA

Aug 12, 2018 03:46pm

US may save some money in the short term at the expense of loss of PR and possible long-term support from Pakistan in the regional balance of powers. Similar policies by Clinton administrations in the 90's were not very productive and healthy for regional politics and balance of powers.

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Adeel

Aug 12, 2018 03:49pm

Good move pak Army!

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Sukhwinder Singh

Aug 12, 2018 04:28pm

Trust on USA is Pakistan s stupid mistake

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Usman

Aug 12, 2018 11:09pm

I don't no if its good to be with Russian side.

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Rameay

Aug 13, 2018 02:48pm

Nice reply to US, we must start honoring our commitments and should not fall back under any pressure.

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El Cid

Aug 13, 2018 03:41pm

Good move. Relations with the US are going to worsen as it tightens the noose around Pakistan.

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Bobby Paul

Aug 13, 2018 08:08pm

Russia do not provide training free like USA.

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anonymouseee

Aug 13, 2018 08:18pm

Excellent news.

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Zak

Aug 13, 2018 08:58pm

@karam Apply that to yourselves first. Already huge debt and now applying for more to China's AIDB Bank.

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Zak

Aug 13, 2018 08:59pm

@vm We want the expertise at any cost.

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Zak

Aug 13, 2018 09:01pm

@El Cid The noose is tightening around US entangled venture in Pakistan. They are asking Pakistan to help untangle it again, 30 years later.

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Najam

Aug 13, 2018 09:37pm

Russian military isnt that great. Ours might be superior actually

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Ali

Aug 13, 2018 10:10pm

United States is a great country, yet its president is abusive and threatens foes and friends alike. He wants to make America first, but by his crazy and unfair actions he is isolating America and making it last. The US must appreciate Pakistan being front-line state in the War on Terror, has 70,000 men, women and children killed. Instead, the US is supporting Iraq and Afghanistan which were enemies and had fought devastating wars against America costing trillions of dollars. The US foreign policy in the Middle East, Asia and Africa is in shambles. Its not surprising that the US is considered as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.

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Riaz

Aug 13, 2018 10:33pm

@Zak well said and a good point

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Abbas Khan

Aug 14, 2018 01:17am

@Tino Not a good advice. Dont give US any chance to attack.

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Syed Ahmed

Aug 14, 2018 03:10am

Pakistan must renew relations with the US as it cannot afford to lose this very important relationship, Trump will be gone soon, but both nations interest to stay united. There are too many challenges, too many enemies who want to break up this relationship, I fault Pakistan FO for not doing its part to remove irritants, its a failure of our FO, hope Imran reaches out to Trump and lets him know Pakistan is a good friend, I am sure our enemies are celebrating.

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Maria enteparia onnuchoriu

Aug 14, 2018 04:55am

@GK , trust but verify, they have a long memory

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Malak

Aug 14, 2018 07:24am

let's learn Russian skills too, good for Pakistan Army..

Recommend 0

Guest

Aug 14, 2018 10:58am

Russia will be an all whether friend just like China with different capability. India is in trouble.

Recommend 0

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