^ Kya bhai sahab aapne to hava nikal diya saare maze ka.
Did you not see how this one thing had brought so many people out into the open. The 3 Pakis, 2/3 Western fanboys. We were all having fun.
On a more serious note, I still think that Pakis buying something from the Russians is not such an unreasonable idea. See in any case Pakis will need some kind of planes besides the JF-17. Pakis have choices like J-20/J-31 (whenever they come) or say the F-35 JSF. What is the harm in having them buy the Su-35. Since their main problem is fully exploitable by the IAF in all cases and since India too will be moving up the technology path, it will not be difficult to keep the Pakis on their toes, whatever they buy.
I tend to look at expensive piece of equipment, as a great target too. Remember IAF had identified like 5000+ targets inside Pakistan about 5 years back. These Su-35 or anything else bought in lieu of it, would just be more target practice for IAF.
Ok there is one more thing. The fact that Russians are thinking of negotiating in this manner implies that MoD is driving a hard bargain on FGFA co-development, where we have significant differences with Russians on the workshare. FGFA should ideally be the last import &/or co-development. But nothing wrong if we end up going full on indigenous earlier than that.
The fact that Russians are choosing to negotiate in this manner also implies that they too think that their Indian collaborations are important.
Sales or even some inny-miny-tiny chances of collaborations with Pakis are a strategic dead end. Photochor will sell it in black market.
The only country that Russians can truly collaborate with for long term security is China &/or India. And considering the history of backstabbing by the Chinese even they remain a doubtful character. Either Russians have to really ratchet up the collaboration speed on various existing/possible projects or they have to be ready for a day when India will decide to move on. In fact, if you see carefully, the Americans are doing all they can to ensure that India is given more choices. Americans off course would like the Russians to be out of the Indian strategic calculations and with Indian ingenuity we should be able to make weaponry that would be cheap and effective, roping in American equipment only where its needed. Like in the case of the LCA Tejas, where the engine is American and the product is very satisfying.
Had I been in Putin's position, I would have readily offered several more collaboration possibilities of cutting edge items. After all it was, nearly forever the Russian strategic proposition that both China and India be brought up faster on weapons capabilities. To hesitate now when India is on a growth path will force the Russians out of the India calculus just the way Russians presence is reducing in the Chinese projects.