Russia Rebuffs Pakistan On Bid To Purchase 50,000 Kalashnikov Rifles, Says No Arms Deals With Islamabad In Future

Pakistan’s bid to buy a consignment of 50,000 new-generation Kalashnikov rifles from Russia has been rejected by the latter’s government, reports The Print. Apart from informing India about the same, Russia has also made an assurance that in the future as well, it will no enter into any military contracts with Pakistan.

The Pakistan Army already uses the AK-56 model of the Kalashnikov series, albeit manufactured by China.

Indian intelligence agencies and authorities have been keeping close scrutiny of Pakistan’s attempts to build a military partnership with Russia, even as the country has now become increasingly isolated from the US, which was earlier a major source of arms for Islamabad.

Previously, in 2015, Russia and Pakistan had entered into a contract for the supply of four Mi-35M attack helicopters by the former to the latter. The armies of the two countries also had their first joint-military exercise in 2016.