A hollow achievement?

After much dilly-dallying, Pakistan has made its first purchase of Russian crude oil — at a “discounted” price. With Russia looking for new outlets for its crude oils and Pakistan looking for cheaper crude to overcome its acute balance of payments crisis, the deal serves both countries well. With a multipolar world in the making, and Pakistan’s traditional allies from China, Iran, Türkiye and even Saudi Arabia preferring to be a part of a new regional bloc led by China, this could be a strategic move towards a closer and warmer relationship between Islamabad and Moscow. To reach a deal, both countries had to overcome considerable hesitation on their respective parts. Badly in need of US support from the International Monetary Fund and other multilateral bodies, Pakistan feared a US backlash to any such deal.