The Pakistan Navy will conduct an official visit to Russia

The Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Alamgir will be reaching the city of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea to conduct an official visit to Russia from 06-09 December 2016 (Sputnik News). Rear Admiral Muhammad Fayyaz Gilani, the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Personnel, will be visiting as part of Alamgir’s port-of-call.

Notes & Comments:

Moscow is certainly willing to build its ties with Pakistan, though its defence component will, at least for the foreseeable future, will be focused on counterinsurgency (COIN) and internal security.

During the 2016 International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS), which took place in Karachi from 22-25 November 2016, Rosonboronexport positioned Russia’s technology expertise in law-enforcement and COIN as the cornerstone of its offerings to Pakistan. As such, its exhibit at IDEAS was comprised of systems such as security equipment for fixed installations, the Kalashnikov-like of assault rifles, BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle and BTR-80A and BTR-82A armoured personnel carriers.

Russia’s first bilateral military exercise with Pakistan, which had taken place in September, was also COIN-centric. Moscow has also scheduled a second (likely similar) bilateral exercise with Pakistan for 2017.

With the Pakistan Navy Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Personnel, visiting Russia, it is possible that efforts are underway to expand upon existing training initiatives to naval capacity-building works.