Pakistan, Russia Negotiating Supplies Of Aviation, Air Defense Systems - Army

ISLAMABAD (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th March, 2019) SLAMABAD, March 24 (Sputnik), Valentina Shvartsman - Pakistan is negotiating defense industry cooperation with Russia in the areas of aviation, air defense systems and anti-tank missiles, spokesman for the Pakistani Army Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor told Sputnik in an interview.

"We are having the aviation, we are having the air defense, we are having the anti-tank domain, which we are negotiating. And that will be positive negotiations," Ghafoor said.

The spokesman declined to clarify which items were on the agenda of the talks, but noted that Pakistan was open to various offers.

"Nothing is out. Anything and everything, which is possible to be purchased by Pakistan, will be done," Ghafoor said.

Defense cooperation between Russia and Pakistan has been on the rise. Russia has agreed to train Pakistani officers and has sold attack helicopters to the South Asian country in recent years. The two countries have held two join counterterror drills since 2014. At the same time Pakistan-US cooperation waned, with Washington cutting military aid and suspending training programs.