Pakistan in talks with Russia for procurement of arms: Report

› We are very much interested in a very wide range of the Russian weapons technology. We are in negotiations (on air defence systems) and once we conclude negotiations, we will be able to announce them KHURRAM DASTGIR KHAN , Pakistan defence minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is in direct talks with Russia for buying sophisticated military hardware including air defence systems, fighter jets and battle tanks, the country’s defence minister said.

Khurram Dastgir Khan said Islamabad was interested in buying weapons from Moscow in an interview to the Russian news agency Sputnik.

“Air defence system is a different kind of weapon we are interested. We are very much interested in a very wide range of the Russian weapons technology. We are in negotiations (on air defence systems) and once we conclude negotiations, we will be able to announce them,” local media reports quoted him as saying.

The minister said Islamabad was interested in acquiring T-90 tanks from Moscow as part of a long-term deal rather than committing itself to a single purchase.

Negotiations for the purchase of Russian Su-35 fighter jets are in their early stages and an agreement in this regard may be reached “in the next few years”, he said.

The minister noted that both Pakistan and Russia were interested in a stable and democratic Afghanistan. “We respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty. Stability in Afghanistan is important for Pakistan to be able to develop its own prosperous future, to access the Russian market, for example, by land route. Democratic and stable Afghanistan is in the deep interest of both Russia and Pakistan,” he said.