Relationship dossier
Pakistan
Russia
Relationship assessment
Pragmatic cooperation has grown, particularly in military exercises and energy, despite a history of political strain.
Pakistan toward Russia
+30Pakistan has participated in recurring joint military exercises with Russia and pursued energy cooperation, including agreements concerning the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline and purchases of Russian crude oil. These actions reflect growing practical engagement, while Pakistan’s historical opposition to Soviet intervention in Afghanistan remains part of the relationship’s background.
Russia toward Pakistan
+30Russia has taken part in recurring joint military exercises with Pakistan and pursued energy cooperation, including the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline arrangements and crude oil sales to Pakistan. This represents growing practical engagement, though the relationship remains narrower than a close strategic partnership.
Overall relationship
+25The relationship has shifted from Cold War-era political strain toward practical cooperation in military training and energy. Recurring exercises and energy arrangements provide a durable basis for engagement, but the scope and implementation of major projects remain uncertain, and the partnership is not exceptionally close.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Pakistan and Russia have expanded pragmatic cooperation, including recurring joint military exercises, energy arrangements and Russian crude oil sales to Pakistan. Relations were historically strained by Pakistan’s opposition to Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and its closer alignment with the United States during the Cold War. Recent cooperation is substantial in specific areas, but does not amount to a close strategic partnership.
Areas of tension
- Pakistan’s opposition to the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan strained relations during the Cold War.
Key developments
Pakistan and Russia began holding joint Druzhba military exercises, which have recurred in subsequent years.
The two governments agreed to cooperate on the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project.
Pakistan received Russian crude oil as part of a bilateral energy trade arrangement.
Major uncertainties
- The implementation and long-term scope of energy projects are unclear.
- The extent of ongoing security cooperation beyond joint exercises is uncertain.