ISLAMABAD: A Russian delegation is visiting Pakistan to discuss the sale of military hardware.

The delegation, led by Fomin Alexander Vasily­evich, director of the Federal Service for Military — Technical Cooperation of the Russian Federation, visited General Headquarters on Thursday for a meeting with Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif, the military’s public affairs division, ISPR, said in a statement.

The discussion, during the meeting, focused on enhanced defence cooperation, the statement reads.

In November 2014, Pak­istan and Russia had signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement to strengthen military-to-military relations.

The agreement was followed by another ‘technical cooperation agreement’. Last year, Russia concluded a deal for the sale of four Mi-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan.

The defence deal marked a major shift in Russian policy towards Pakistan and the start of a new chapter in bilateral ties.

“There is a commitment to move ahead and widen that cooperation,” said a military official. A source said Russia was in negotiations with Pakistan over the sale of other equipment.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2016