Pakistan in talks with Russia over the purchase of Su-35 fighter jets, T-90 tanks, and S-400 missile system

Pakistan in talks with Russia over the purchase of Su-35 fighter jets, T-90 tanks, and the S-400 missile system. Pakistan Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan confirmed to Sputnik that Pakistan is interested in buying Su-35 fighter jets, T-90 tanks, and S-400 missile system from Russia

He said that Pakistan and Russia may reach an agreement on Islamabad purchasing Russian Su-35 jets “in the next few years,” the talks on the issue are in their early stages, Khan told Sputnik.

“Concerning fighter aircraft Su-35: maybe in the next few years we will be able to reach that point, we are in the beginning of negotiations now,” the minister said answering a corresponding question.

Pakistan is also in talks with Moscow on the issue of purchasing air defense systems. We are very much interested in a very wide range of Russian weapons technology. We are in negotiations on air defense systems and once we conclude negotiations, we will be able to announce them,” Khan said in an interview.

Pakistan is interested in acquiring Russian T-90 tanks as a long-term commitment instead of a single purchase, Pakistani Defense Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan told Sputnik in an interview on Thursday.

Islamabad looks forward to expanding defense cooperation with Russia in all areas, including military training, procuring equipment, and sharing intelligence, Pakistani Defense Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan told Sputnik in an interview on Thursday.

“In the defense field, we signed a historical unprecedented Pakistan-Russia defense agreement in 2014. As a result, we have been able to conduct joint exercises, Pakistan has purchased Russian helicopters Mi-35 and now we are looking at a much wider range of defense cooperation. In terms of training, Pakistani officers are coming to Russia and Russian officers are going to the Pakistani facilities for training. We are also now discussing a wider range of military exercises, we are looking at a wider range of military equipment and intelligence sharing,” Khan said on the sidelines of the Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS).

The official commended the current level of defense industry cooperation, noting that in the future Islamabad hopes to expand the variety of military equipment sold by Russia to Pakistan.

“We are looking towards a great future in certain areas, in which Russia has excellent expertise, such as the tanks and air defense systems,” Khan noted.

Even though Pakistan and Russia had differences in the past on the Afghan crisis, the countries have now achieved mutual understanding on regional and international issues, according to the minister.

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