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Russia rejects Pakistan request for 50,000 AK rifles, assures India of no deals in future

Pakistan's proposal to buy consignment from Russia had surprised many in India since its army uses AK 56, manufactured by China, among other rifles.

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New Delhi: The Russian government has rejected Pakistan’s request to buy new generation Kalashnikov rifles, commonly known as AK, assuring India that there will not be any military deal with Islamabad.

Top sources in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint that India was informed about the rejection earlier this year.

The sources also said Pakistan had sent in a proposal to buy a consignment of 50,000 AK series of assault rifles in an attempt to deepen military ties with Russia. The sources, however, did not mention the particular model sought by the neighbouring country.


Also read: India, Russia eye more joint collaborations, pact soon for manufacturing defence spares


Pakistan’s proposals to Russia

Pakistan’s proposal had surprised many in the Indian establishment since the nation’s army uses the AK 56 – manufactured by China – besides other rifles.

AK 56 is the Chinese version of the AK 47, but lighter. A number of AK 56s have been seized from the terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.

Pakistan’s proposal was, nevertheless, a matter of concern considering the fact that many of these rifles would have landed in the hands of terrorists, said the sources.

They also added that the Russian top leadership has assured India of no such military cooperation with Pakistan – an assurance which came after India raised its concerns with Moscow this year.

Indian intelligence agencies have been keeping a close watch on the activities of Pakistani army and their attempts to build ties with Russia. The agencies had flagged many other proposals made by Pakistan to Russia such as purchase of T90 tanks and new air defence systems following the Balakot airstrikes.

Russia and Pakistan had in 2015 signed a deal for four Mi-35M attack helicopters, which has already been delivered. The following year, in 2016, Russia and Pakistan also carried out their first joint military exercise.

These developments were raised at multiple levels between the governments of India and Russia.


Also read: Here’s all about the AK rifles which India will now make with Russian help


 

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Russia ak47 all types and variant easuly available in fata markets why would Our government buy it directly from russia? Our army seized millions of weapons from raw paid terrorists.

  2. Russia’s interest is making Afghanistan stable and stopping drugs traffic to Russian Federation. So made it very clear in beginning – with Pakistan drills or helicopter supply or some arms supply will be limited to anti terror cooperation.
    Russia is part of CPEC, but not in Pakistan respecting interests of India.
    Russia remembers well Pakistan’s role in Afghan war also. Know very well side changing nature of Pakistan. Some day there will be some workable relations, but never at cost of India.
    So far no official visit by President of Russia to Pakistan or invites Pakistan PM or President.

  3. Pack of lies keeps popping out in Indian Media every other day without any evidence on the ground. This is what you call narrative building.

    If one believes in Indian media then he has to accept that Abhinandan was on his para course and he landed himself in Pakistan.

  4. So Russia agreed to provide us state-of-the-art helicopters but refused rifles, that Pakistan Ordnance Factories are quite capable of producing themselves? Something doesn’t seem right… oh wait, it does 🙂 who else smells something burning?

    • I think the Russians refused as the Pakis couldn’t pay for it! I understand that life must be difficult, aid from US is finished, China gives money when they buy parts of your country and the Arabs give you money as part of their charity as part of their Zakat.

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