File photo: AFPNew Delhi: Russia on Tuesday denied it was in talks with Pakistan to join the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a project that India has reservations about since it crosses Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). “Reports appearing in Pakistan’s media about some ‘secret talks’ between Russia and Pakistan on the creation of China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) do not correspond to the realities,” a Russian foreign ministry statement from Moscow said. Formal authorisation to Russia to join the CPEC will be given soon, a report in the Hindustan Times said on Saturday. This came after Russia lifted a long-standing arms embargo and signed a landmark military cooperation agreement with Pakistan in 2014. Since then, reports have suggested that Pakistan is interested in acquiring more military gear from Russia, including Su-35 combat jets.

Source: Mint November 29, 2016 14:24 UTC