Russia and Pakistan have organised joint-military exercises, marking a first in modern history. This move has alarmed India which has, historically, been Russia's closest ally in Southern Military District, leaving analysts speculating on the larger, long-term implications of this new bilateral military collaboration. Some see it as Russia looking to get a foothold on the Pakistani armaments market, at a time when relations between the US and Pakistan over purchases of the F-16 fighter have been troubled, leading Pakistan to consider buying from Russia instead. It is also unknown how China views Russia's foray into Pakistan, which has invested much in its closet regional ally.
Russia and Pakistan have organised joint-military exercises, marking a first in modern history. This move has alarmed India which has, historically, been Russia's closest ally in South Asia, leaving analysts speculating on the larger, long-term implications of this new bilateral military collaboration. Some see it as Russia looking to get a foothold on the Pakistani armaments market, at a time when relations between the US and Pakistan over purchases of the F-16 fighter have been troubled, leading Pakistan to consider buying from Russia instead. It is also unknown how China views Russia's foray into Pakistan, which has invested much in its closet regional ally.