On 18 May 2026, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergey Ryabkov, and Additional Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, co-chaired the 16th meeting of the Russia-Pakistani Consultative Group on Strategic Stability in Moscow. Both countries decided to hold the 17th meeting next year in Islamabad. Despite increased diplomatic engagement in recent years between the two countries, Russia-¬Pakistan relations are still in a normalisation phase and increased engagement between the two states currently is more so for the purpose of strategic normalisation rather than strategic alignment. This bilateral relationship undergoing a gradual but important stage of evolution is significant. Russia seeks partners to reduce diplomatic isolation, and Pakistan seeks strategic diversification to move beyond its excessive dependence on the West.

Russia-¬Pakistan relations are emerging, but under the persistent shadow of India's privileged place in Russian strategic thinking as it enjoys a historic, time-tested defence and strategic partnership with India which continues to shape both the opportunities and limits of bilateral engagement between Russia and Pakistan - which so far has remained tactical and limited. Many American Presidents have visited Pakistan, but President Putin is yet to visit the country. Compare this with the Annual Summit that the Indian Prime Minister and the Russian President hold on a rotational basis, and besides this, both have met each other over 20 times in recent years.

Over time, India has also expanded its........

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