Beyond Russian oil: Why Pakistan needs to discover Russia

For many Pakistanis, Russia is a country that appears in the news from time to time. In recent years, the most common headlines have been about Russian oil, energy cooperation and relations between Moscow and Islamabad. Russian crude oil supplies have attracted considerable attention in Pakistan, particularly because many people see cheaper energy as important for an economy struggling with high living costs.

But there is much more to Russia-Pakistan relations than oil.

The two countries have not been close friends in the traditional sense, but neither have they been adversaries in recent years. Their relationship has moved through different phases, often shaped by changing regional and global politics. Today, there is an opportunity to build a broader relationship based not only on government-to-government contacts but also on people-to-people ties.

Culture could be one of the easiest places to begin.

Consider food. In Pakistan, the word “Russian” is familiar at the dinner table, but in a rather unusual way. We have Russian salad. Yet what Pakistanis commonly call Russian salad is usually a mixture of fruits, vegetables and mayonnaise, and in local language it can sometimes be closer to what we call fruit chaat.

But where is the real Russian food?

In Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and other major Pakistani cities, Russian cuisine is still almost invisible. There are restaurants offering Chinese, Turkish, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Lebanese and many other cuisines. But finding a restaurant dedicated to Russian food is extremely difficult.

This is a missed cultural opportunity.

Food is often the simplest ambassador of a country. A Pakistani does not need to read a book about Italy before trying Italian food. A person can discover a country through its dishes, music and films. Russia could use the same approach in Pakistan.

Russian restaurants, food festivals and cooking events could introduce Pakistanis to Russian culture in a friendly and informal way. They could also create opportunities for Pakistani and Russian chefs to work together. Such exchanges would be far more meaningful than simply putting flags on official events.

Cinema offers another important opportunity.

Recently, the Russian Embassy organised a free Russian film screening event at Centaurus Mall in Islamabad. Residents were given an opportunity to watch a selection of Russian films, with four movies included in the programme. The event was open to the general public, while seating was available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Families were also welcome, subject to the age restrictions of individual films. Visitors were advised to check the classification because two of the films were intended for adult audiences.

Such events may appear small, but they can have a large cultural impact.

A person who watches a Russian film may become curious about Russian history, literature, music, cities and people. A young Pakistani who discovers Russian cinema today could become a student of the Russian language tomorrow. Cultural curiosity can eventually develop into educational, tourism and business links.

Russia has enormous cultural resources to share with Pakistan. Russian literature is known around the world. Russian cinema has a long tradition. Russian music, ballet, art and architecture have their own global appeal. Yet much of this cultural wealth remains distant from the ordinary Pakistani audience.

The answer is not only more official speeches. It is more public interaction.

Russia could organise travelling film festivals in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and other cities. Russian book fairs, photography exhibitions, music performances, food festivals and university cultural programmes could become regular features rather than occasional events.

Tourism is another area with considerable potential.

Pakistanis who travel abroad often think of Dubai, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Europe or the United States. Russia is rarely the first destination that comes to mind. Yet cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg, along with Russia’s vast natural and cultural landscape, could offer Pakistani tourists a completely different experience.

Better information, easier travel arrangements, cultural promotion and tourism partnerships could help change this.

Education is equally important. Russian universities and Pakistani universities could expand student exchanges, joint research and language programmes. Scholarships and academic partnerships could create a new generation of Pakistanis who understand Russia not through international headlines but through direct experience.

There is also a wider political dimension.

Russia’s challenge to Western dominance has attracted sympathy among sections of Pakistani society. The conflict in Ukraine has also produced debate in Pakistan, with some Pakistanis viewing Russia’s position through the broader question of Western influence and the international balance of power.

But public understanding of Russia should not depend only on geopolitics.

A relationship between two countries becomes stronger when ordinary people know something about each other. Governments can sign agreements, but people build lasting connections through culture, education, tourism, food, sport and business.

Pakistan and Russia therefore have an opportunity before them. Energy cooperation can be an important part of the relationship, but it should not be the whole relationship.

Pakistanis already know the name Russia. Perhaps the next step is to know Russia itself.

A Russian film in Islamabad, a Russian restaurant in Lahore, a Russian cultural festival in Karachi, a student exchange between Moscow and Islamabad, or a Pakistani tourist walking through the streets of St Petersburg may appear to be small developments. Together, however, they can create something much bigger: a relationship between societies.

Russia does not need to become Pakistan’s best friend overnight. Pakistan does not need to redefine its foreign policy around Moscow.

Both countries simply need to discover the possibilities that already exist.

The future of Pakistan-Russia relations may begin not with another diplomatic headline, but with something much simpler: a film, a meal, a book, a student or a tourist.

That is where people-to-people friendship begins.