Russia in Pakistan

A somewhat unhappy denouement on the India-Russia-US ménage a trois has been long in the making. Thus far, India was sitting pretty, basking in the attention from the two suitors while Moscow felt the jitters. Mouth-watering military deals in Russia's bailiwick were slipping away to its Western rivals, orders for nuclear reactors got caught in a technical tangle and trade failed to respond to governmental ministrations. The number of Indians travelling to Moscow was a trickle compared to the hordes aspiring for a visa to any Western country. The odds were stacked against Russia but Indian diplomacy displayed dexterity in keeping Moscow in good humour. That was till Narendra Modi opted for an unabashed strategic embrace with the US.

Russia read the writing on the wall and decided to play all sides in the region. Six months after Modi became Prime Minister, Russia sent its Defence Minister to Islamabad carrying an approval for a major military sale, the first in nearly four decades. The US had achieved this milestone in India in 1999 with the sale of weapon locating radars. In other words, 15 years after India broke bread with the US, Russia also opted to enlarge its arms market by doing business with New Delhi’s arch rival. Only the inveterate Russophobes would view the latest development — joint Pakistan-Russia military exercises — as the thin edge of the wedge.  

The world has become more promiscuous as memories of the Cold War recede. Israel, whom the Indian right wing holds so dear to heart, does business with China despite receiving billions in American military. Nor is it averse to holding military exercises with Pakistan (and US) although Indian orders give its defence companies the volumes it could never get.  Russia has overlooked international rules to accommodate India's security requirements while New Delhi has given diplomatic comfort to Moscow whenever it has felt internationally friendless. Rather than giving the impression of appearing jilted, Indian diplomacy needs to evolve as well as make course corrections.