Q: How successful have Pakistan’s relations been with the USSR from 1947 to

1999? Discuss in detail.

A: Pakistan has borne a tough period of relationship with USSR due to political,
ideological and religious differences.
When in 1949 Pakistan was in search of some constructive relationship with either of
the superpowers, USSR was the first to have risen to the occasion and offered an invite
to PM Liaquat Ali Khan. This was the time when the US was keen to have diplomatic
relations with India but still didn’t want Pakistan to fall into the hands of USSR. L.A.
Khan snubbed USSR and went to US and from here began a period of rivalry and
opposition from the communist super power that were to haunt Pakistan for decades.
This included the neutral stance over Kashmir reverted to a supportive one for India. In
1954, Pakistan left NAM and joined SEATO and later CENTO that confirmed its status
from a neutral state in the context of Cold War to a staunch US ally and an opponent of
communism. Also, the Soviets came out as a supporter of Afghanistan on the
Pakhtoonistan issue. Although some efforts were made to normalize the relations during
Suharwardy’s rule when a Soviet cultural delegation visited Pakistan to attend a festival
of the Soviet films and Pakistan responded by sending a delegation of her own to study
Soviet development in agriculture and industrial sector that culminated in an offer of
supplying nuclear energy for peaceful purpose. Moreover, in 1958, Pakistan and Soviet
Union finally established an oil consortium, Pakistan Oilfields, and expressing interests
in establishing the country's first steel mills. Interestingly all of these privileges were
offered at the expense of Pakistan’s relations with US, Something not possible for
Pakistan. Hence the relations that promised a lot were now on the verge of collapse.
The climax of this hostility was seen when the US spy plane – U2 was shot down by
USSR that was on espionage mission and had flown from Badaber Camp, Peshawar.
The Soviets were assured of Pakistan’s animosity here.
Situation, however, changed in 1962 with the border clash between India and China at
the Ladakh region. USSR had some political differences with communist China and
hence supported their ally India. To Pakistan’s utter anguish and disdain, US too helped
India as they had vowed to help any country against communist aggression. This led to
change in Pakistan’s stance and they not only developed relations with China but also
USSR. In 1965, Ayub made a visit to Moscow and met the Soviet leader Brezhnev. It
was evident that USSR had plans to form an Indo-Pak-Soviet alliance to keep the US
and Chinese at bay. The Russian leader also offered to help the settlement of the
Kashmir issue. Later the Soviets hosted a peace conference at Tashkent in January
1966 that made India and Pakistan sign a peace agreement. Brezhnev reiterated his
desire of Pakistan joining the Russian camp but it was too critical a decision for Ayub to
leave the US bloc. Hence the relations deteriorated.
1971 saw Pakistan acting as a catalyst to Sino-US rapprochement that was not
received well in USSR. In retaliation they signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship with
India that proved fatal to Pakistan’s fortune in her war with India. After the secession of
East Pakistan, Bhutto imposed his socialist reforms in Pakistan and also tried to
improve relations with the USSR. A vital breakthrough was the agreement on building
Steel Mills in Karachi. Back in Afghanistan there was chaos after the assassination of
long-time monarch, Sardar Daud and a communist regime was trying to take control.
USSR was keen to help Afghanistan become a communist state but that was something
unacceptable to the Zia-led military regime who had imposed Islamic reforms in 1977.
When the USSR invaded Afghanistan to impose their authority, Pakistan started to help
the mujahideens against them. The US aid was provided through Pakistan’s territory
and Pakistan became a front-line state in the conflict. The decade of 1980’s saw
Pakistan bore the brunt of the war not only in the form of the refugees but also terrorist
acts like bombings, mainly a Soviet retaliation against Pakistan’s involvement in the
war.
The superpowers agreed to bring an end to the war and this made the chances of better
relations a realistic opportunity. After the disintegration the Soviet Union and the
subsequent emergence of the Russian Federation as the successor state, Pakistan
tried to establish relations with the new regime. In 1996, Russia willingly agreed to
launch Pakistan's second satellite, Badr-B, from its Baikonur Cosmodrome for the
lowest possible charges. Russia did not criticize Pakistan on the nuclear tests in 1999
but did hold Pakistan responsible in instigating the Kargil War. Meanwhile, Russia
played a major role in ending the war but remained hostile towards Pakistan. Russia
also condemned the 1999 Pakistani coup d'état against Nawaz Sharif that removed
Sharif from power.
Based on the discussion above I conclude that the relations between both the countries
have generally been hostile for multiple reasons. It was a difference in social structure,
religious norms that didn’t allow them to prosper. Also, the influence of US on a growing
country like Pakistan prevented the leaders to take decisive actions. The Soviet role in
the 1971 War remains a thorn in the flesh for Pakistan, the effects of which couldn’t be
forgotten by other acts of them like the assistance in the construction of Steel Mills and
monetary support in 1960’s.