So the Russians will sell to both India and Pakistan. Interesting strategy. Will push India to seek weapons from the US in the future since Russia won't be the trusted friend anymore.
Interesting point about Russia supplying the same tank to both India and Pakistan. I thought China was the main supplier of arms to Pakistan although the T90 is probably a much better tank that anything in China's arsenal.
The stategy is real simple, the check cleared. It is all about th benjaimins.
Actually speaking-this is one of many contradictory reports on this deal.There's not been much solid stuff on this in the Indian papers or any reaction from the Indian government.So what I think(& a lot of experts r saying) is that this is essentially a deal to supply spare parts(Engines,chassis etc) to Pakistan's fleet of 320 T-80UD(predecessor of sorts to the T-90) tanks,which it acquired from Ukraine about 7 years ago.
The T-80 being a Soviet system in every sense,was shared by Russia&Ukraine.The Russians refused to sell engines,optronic sights etc to Pakis-leading to deal to getting bogged down.Moreover Pakistan has an "indegnious" tank programme going on known as the AL-KHALID, which seems to be a straight rip-off of some Chinese tank.
Pakistan, as most of you know is rather tight on funds(has to beg to Washington or to its Arab bros)-so buying a 3rd tank variant of pretty much equal standard makes no sense whatso ever.
India &Russia have a variety of joint-programmes going on-a supersonic cruise missile,5th generation fighter(supposedly to be a competitor to the JSF),a medium transport aircraft&numerous naval&aerial systems .So the Russians would have to be out of their minds to sell tanks&that too 300 of them to the Pakis.
So in short-this is nothing but some wierd spin .