Article Posted on : - Jun 04, 2014

The Russian media has reported that Russia is planning to supply the Mi-35 military helicopters to Pakistan.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Ruling out any change in its policy, Russia on Wednesday said it is in talks with Pakistan for the supply of Mi-35 military helicopters but said it would do nothing "detrimental" to the strategic relationship with India.

Moscow's Ambassador in New Delhi, Alexander M Kadakin, said that Russia had never imposed any arms embargo on Pakistan and that its technical and military cooperation with the country dates back to 1960s.

"We have not changed any policy, and contrary to press reports there has not been any embargo on Pakistan. We supplied arms to Pakistan since early 1960s. This was sheer case of mis-reporting and over-reacting," he said.

He was reacting to reports from Moscow that Russia has lifted an arms embargo on Pakistan and that the two countries were in talks over the supply of Mi-35 combat helicopters.

Russia has not supplied any arms to Pakistan but there have only been "initial" talks to supply the Mi-35 helicopters, he said.

"We have not supplied, lately, any arms to Pakistan. It's not the arms, but its Mi-17 civilian aircraft. We are at the very initial stage of talks on Mi-35, but that is exclusively for anti-terrorist and anti-narcotics operation.

"There can be a wish list from Pakistan, but we have not reacted to that. It is a matter of negotiations," Kadakin said.

The envoy said that Russia saw supplying its Mi-35 helicopters as its contribution to the anti-terrorist and anti-narcotics endeavour.

"Russia, as a member of international coalition, treats is as a contribution to Pakistan's participation in anti-drugs and anti- terrorist operation."

He added that Russia was with India in its fight against terror and shall do nothing that will prove detrimental to the "deep and strategic" relationship with India.

"We shall never do anything, and it has been stated time and again by the highest level..With India, we are by its side of anti-terror campaign.

"Since there are no supplies (of arms), then how can they affect anything? One should understand that it is not that somebody is supplying to Pakistan. Nothing was done, nothing is being done and nothing will be done that will be detrimental to the deep relationship," the ambassador said.