ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: For the first time in many years, there are clear signs of a marked improvement in Pakistan-Russia relations with the two countries forging a partnership that was perhaps never expected since the creation of Pakistan.

The most recent manifestation of increased confidence between the two countries is the establishment of a major working group — the Consultative Group on Strategic Stability — formalized last month, and an agreement between the two countries to forge an alliance to tackle an issue considered a threat to the regional stability by both the countries.

The first major advance in Pakistan-Russia ties was achieved last year before the Sept 11 attacks on the United States. Islamabad successfully concluded an agreement with Moscow for the sale of 16 Russian Mi-17 military cargo helicopters in July 2001.

Since early this year, Pakistan and Russia have been engaged in pro-active diplomacy to improve bilateral ties. There has been intense high-level interaction between the two countries with delegations going back and forth. Aziz Ahmed Khan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Moscow in January for consultations on Afghanistan and other matters. The Russians conveyed to him their appreciation of the “bold steps” taken by President Gen Pervez Musharraf to counter extremism.

A Russian business delegation also visited Pakistan earlier this year as a consequence of which a Pakistan-Russia Business Forum was created. Last month, a Pakistan-Russia Business Council, comprising three richest Russians and three Pakistanis based in Moscow, was set up. The council, based in Moscow, will be formally registered this month.

Sources privy to the council formation say 30 Russian companies are ready to invest in Pakistan and 300 more have shown keen interest. The joint business council targets a turnover of a billion dollars worth of trade and investment in the coming year. It promises a significant growth in the current low volume of trade between the two countries that stood at 60 million dollars last year.

The warming of Russia-Pakistan relations has not happened overnight. But the two countries appear to have found more reasons to work together in the last one year than in the previous 10 years. This convergence of interest has materialized in a far more frequent exchange of official visitors.