ISLAMABAD: Russian authorities said on Tuesday that Pakistan was a ‘geo-strategically important’ country and they were keen on expanding existing military-to-military cooperation. The Russian offer to expand defence and security ties with Pakistan came during Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s visit to Moscow. Gen Bajwa held talks with Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, the commander of the Russian Federation’s Ground Forces, at Kremlin Palace. Upon arrival, the COAS was presented with a guard of honour. Later, he laid a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier. National anthems of both countries were played on the occasion. A statement issued by the military’s public relations wing stated that a notable outcome of the meeting was the acknowledgement by the top Russian military commander of Pakistan’s achievement in the fight against terrorism and its contribution for regional peace and stability. This is in stark contrast to the US position which, since Donald Trump came to the White House, has repeatedly accused Pakistan of not doing enough. “Pakistan is a geo-strategically important country and Russia is keen to expand its existing bilateral military to military cooperation,” the Russian Ground Forces Commander said. Gen Bajwa thanked General Oleg and said that Pakistan shared desire for enhanced bilateral military engagements. He said that Russia had recently played a positive role to help resolve complex issues in the region. “Pakistan will continue to play its part in keeping conflicts away from the region and seeking approaches to bring regional convergences into play rather than divergences,” he said. Earlier in February, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif visited Moscow to garner Russia’s support after Trump pressurised Pakistan to do more on the front of terrorism. Then the defence minister also visited Moscow. And more recently, National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua visited the country. The flurry of visits suggest a new push by Pakistan to diversify its foreign policy options, after the US expanded its cooperation and strategic ties with India. Russia was one of the first countries, which publically expressed its solidarity with Pakistan after U.S. president Donald Trump unveiled a new strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia. Trump accused Pakistan of supporting and harbouring the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network. He threatened Pakistan to change that approach or face consequences. Russia along with China, however, came to Pakistan’s aid by suggesting that shifting the entire blame on Pakistan would destabilise the region and would have negative impact on Afghan security. Pakistan has been pushing for a regional consensus on Afghanistan. Russia, China and Iran have endorsed Pakistan’s stance that the use of force will not resolve the lingering conflict in Afghanistan. All the regional players believe that the only way out to achieve elusive peace in the war-ravaged country can come through Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. Published in Daily Times, April 25th 2018.