Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the suggestion that Pakistan is entirely dependent on or controlled by China, stressing that Islamabad maintains broader international relations.

During an interaction with an Indian journalist, Putin referred to Pakistan as a “large country” with “multi-faceted ties” with several states, rejecting the idea that it can be viewed solely through its relationship with Beijing.

His remarks countered the premise of the question and highlighted that regional geopolitics is more complex than single-ally narratives.

The statement was widely seen as an acknowledgment that Pakistan engages with multiple global partners rather than operating under a one-dimensional foreign policy alignment.