Official sources confirmed to The Express Tribune that Gen Kayani would make the “historic trip” in the second week of September, marking the beginning of a new phase of otherwise troubled ties. He is expected to be given a warm welcome in Moscow, where he is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart and also President Vladimir Putin, sources added.
Gen Kayani was originally scheduled to visit the former superpower in early August but the trip was delayed due to a series of meetings with US officials as part of rapprochement between Islamabad and Washington.
What does this visit mean?
The army chief’s visit is being seen as a significant development as it comes just weeks before the Russian president undertakes his first-ever visit to Islamabad in early October.
“We have turned a new page in our relationship with Russia. It is a major shift,” said a senior official at the foreign ministry requesting anonymity.
A senior military official added that the two countries would push for greater military-to-military ties during Gen Kayani’s trip. “Ironically, Pakistan and Russia have more points of convergences than Pakistan does with the Americans,” he added.
The two countries are thought to share similar views on the Afghan endgame and have voiced concerns over US military presence in the war-torn country beyond 2014.“You will not see that much bullying of Pakistan. It is going to have a sobering effect on Pak-US relations,” argued Maria.
“The old Cold War rivals are going to be strategic partners. And this will change the entire strategic map of not only Pakistan but also of Afghanistan and Central Asia,” said defence analyst Maria Sultan. More
