Thread by @Muh_Taimur_Khan

This report does not deserve any attention from Pakistani side & the response from @ForeignOfficePk is necessary & sufficient. However, it does require some clarification, esp. after a recent dig at Pakistan's nuclear program by POTUS.

https://twitter.com/SATimes_TV/status/1587751256839397377

So, it is imp. to see who said it & when was it said (timing).

The statement was made by Morozov Igor Nikolaevich & comes at a time when #Russia is being targeted for instigating nuclear war & for making threats about use of nukes against #Ukraine in the #RussiaUkraineWar.

Moreover, this allegation was made after an incident was reported where #Pakistan had allegedly supplied artillery ammunition to the Armed Forces of #Ukraine a couple of months ago. #Russian response to this was very negative to say the least. Another incident that fed into...

the annoyance of #Russians was the attack on the Russian consulate in Kabul, responsibility of which was claimed by #ISKP. Some segments in Russia claim that the SVR (#Russian foreign intelligence service) reported that Pakistan had info of the attack & slept on it.

It is important to note here that both these allegations were never substantiated with any evidence/ proof.

Now comes the other imp. part, WHO made the statement & in this case it is Senator Lt. Col. (R) Morozov.

As is the case with most of the prominent #Russian lawmakers, Senator Morozov's career also began in the Soviet Armed Forces from 1978-1994. During this time, he joined the KGB & graduated from the Red Banner Institute of the KGB also known as Academy of Foreign Intelligence.

Senator Morozov served as KGB's Special Operative in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province in 1982-83. Attached are his two photographs from his time in Afghanistan that are available online. He is the one on the left in both photographs (individual with beard & in casual dressing).

He is also an Economist as well & as per open source data, he is a professor (or remained) at the State University Higher School of Economics in #Russia.

After his retirement from service, he worked in various senior positions in commercial, investment & banking structures.

He remained below the radar during the Yeltsin years (1994-2000). He appeared on #Russia's political scene in 2000 when President #Putin assumed charge. Morozov served as Chief Advisor in Administration of the President of the RF.

Became Senator in 2001 till 2003. Then became Deputy of State Duma (lower house) from 2003-07.
Then served as Deputy Head of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS - #Russian NATO) from mid-2009-later 2012.
Also ran for Governor before being appointed as Senator again.

And as Senator, he now enjoys profound immunity after President Putin recently made constitutional amendments.

Senator Morozov is President Putin's point man for doing aggressive PR for Russian businesses around the world. His recent target has been African Union...

where Morozov travels to very frequently, trying to established commercial linkages in different African countries for #Russian businesses.

He started his political career as a member of United #Russia (the ruling party of Russia, of which Preisdnet Putin is a member.

He is now a member of the Patriots of Russia now called A JUST RUSSIA FOR TRUTH. A party which mainly consists of Statist-Collectivist Communists (apologies for all the 'ists'). It is a non-system opposition party & highly pro-Kremlin.

In simple terms, it means that people like Morozov who are part of the non-system opposition are excluded from the 'official' political system, have limited resources, rely heavily on their social networks to survive & enjoy little trust among citizens (aka friendly opposition).

Hence, Senator Morozov's statement need not be taken too seriously since he has to make such statements & exaggerate matters in order to remain relevant & remain in the good books of the President to ensure political survival in today's #Russia.

Moreover, Senator Morozov has a rich history of making such outrageous statements & allegations, not only against other countries but even against political opponents, allies & government officials.

Case & point, Morozov called Herman Gref, ex-Min. of Eco & Trade of Russia & former CEO of Sberbank "a dead beast" in 2016 & held Gref responsible for Russia's slow economic progress (as the latter made bad policies & did not implement Putin's plans to the dot during zero years).

In conclusion, taking into account the contemporary international situation, prevailing dynamics in Russia, timing of the topic (nuclear) & idiosyncrasy (I love this word since it is comprehensively encapsulating) of Sen. Morozov, the statement shall not be taken too seriously.