President Asif Ali Zardari has recently visited Russia. As such, these visits are unavoidable to strengthen the relations between Pakistan and Russia.
This remind me the visit of our first Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan who lost the golden opportunity to have cordial relations with the former super power of the world i.e., Soviet Union (now Russia). After getting official invitation to visit Soviet Union, Liaqat Ali Khan not only did not accept the invitation of Soviet Union but in retaliation went on a tour to USA.
Nonetheless, ex-foreign minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, during the tenure of Ayub Khan in 1963, brought radical changes in Pakistan’s foreign policy and improved relations considerably with Soviet Union, China and other non-aligned countries.
Again, Bhutto after coming into power on Dec 20, 1971, improved relations with Soviet Union who set up gigantic Pakistan Steel Mills at Karachi. However, when ex-army dictator General Zia-ul-Haq came into power on Jul 05, 1977 by eliminating elected government, Pakistan was virtually converted into a “colony” of USA as it was mainly used to dismember Soviet Union. Nonetheless, Pakistan is still suffering from the burns of opposing Soviet Union to please USA, in one way or the other.
While welcoming President Zardari’s move to improve relations with Russia and China, I think such steps would go a long way to strengthen our country.
MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL
Karachi
