New Delhi: In recent years, Russia has gradually expanded its ties with Pakistan, yet these relations have never matched the depth, trust, and strategic breadth of its long-standing partnership with India. Historical alignments, strategic interests, and economic realities have cemented this distinction.
A telling example occurred on September 23, 2016, when around 250 Indian soldiers of the Kumaon Regiment arrived in Vladivostok for the INDRA-2016, an 11-day joint military exercise with Russian forces. Coincidentally, on the same day, 70 Russian soldiers arrived in Pakistan for the first Pakistan-Russia joint exercise, Druzhba-2016, sparking international attention. While India viewed the timing with concern, Russia’s long-term commitment to India remained unwavering.
Recently, during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, bilateral ties were further strengthened, underscoring Moscow’s preference for a deep, reliable partnership with New Delhi. Conversely, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was left waiting without a meeting with Putin during an international conference in Ashgabat, highlighting the limits of Pakistan-Russia engagement.
Russia’s Commitment to India
Experts note that Russia has made it clear that its collaboration with Pakistan will never compromise India-Russia ties. Moscow has also assured New Delhi that it will never sell strategic offensive weapons to Pakistan that could threaten India’s national security. Defense analysts emphasize Russia as India’s most trusted defense partner, with continuous support in technology transfers, co-production, and advanced defense systems such as the S-400 air defense system and the proposed S-500, which further strengthen India’s strategic edge.
Historical Context
The roots of this strategic preference stretch back decades. From Stalin’s criticism of the partition of India in 1947 to Pakistan’s alignment with the United States during the Cold War, Russia has consistently prioritized India in South Asia. Even Soviet engagement with Pakistan remained limited, with strategic weapons and major defense technology firmly reserved for India.
Modern Defense Collaboration
Today, India continues to benefit from a wide range of Russian defense systems, including fighter jets, missile defense, and joint missile projects like BrahMos. Meanwhile, Russia’s limited military engagement with Pakistan is restricted to smaller equipment like attack helicopters and anti-tank systems, with no transfer of advanced strategic weapons, reinforcing the unshakable India-Russia defense alliance.
As South Asia’s geopolitical landscape evolves, Russia’s commitment to India remains clear: India’s strategic partnership will not be compromised for any third party, including Pakistan.
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