Russian media outlets all but missed the visit of the prime minister of Pakistan to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. A single news agency mentioned the matter - and only briefly. Can Moscow be that indifferent with regard to the relations between the countries that seriously aspire for regional leadership?

It cannot be, of course. It seems, however, that Russian experts (particularly the ones that promise Uzbekistan "Russian modernization" and sing hosannah to "the unique Uzbek way" and the friendship between Putin and Karimov that bloomed all of a sudden in the wake of the tragedy in Andijan) had better pay attention and take a look at official Tashkent's pragmatic "multi-vector" policy. Or this Central Asian capital may lose all interest in integration with Russia (God forbid).

There are certain nuances indicating that the Pakistani premier's visit is not just a protocol function, that it is in fact a sign of the foreign political plans of Tashkent.

Nuance one: the visit was broadly covered in Uzbek media outlets that were full of typically flowery praise. Mikhail Fradkov's recent visit to Tashkent never got so benevolent a coverage.

"The heads of Uzbekistan and Russia uphold similar views on the matters of bilateral relations and on international and regional issues. Our countries cooperate within the framework of the Shanghai Organization of Cooperation and Organization of Eurasian Economic Cooperation," UzA news agency dutifully reported when Fradkov's conversation with Islam Karimov was over.

"Friendship between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Pakistan is rooted in centuries," UzA reported yesterday. "Our bilateral relations rose to a wholly new level when Uzbekistan regained sovereignty. Establishment of sturdy and long-term ties between Tashkent and Islamabad opens before Uzbekistan a vista of new opportunities of cooperation with countries of the Persian Gulf and promises Pakistan broader cooperation with countries of the Central Asian region."

"Historic and cultural closeness of the peoples of Uzbekistan and Pakistan" is the talk of the day in the Uzbek media. After more than a century of life with the Russians side by side and even in a common state, media outlets of independent Uzbekistan would never write anything like that about Russia.

Nuance two: according to Uzbek media outlets, "... the opening of a subsidiary of the National Bank of Pakistan in Tashkent is being discussed. It will facilitate mutual trade and cooperation in the sphere of investments."

Not a single Russian bank can boast of having a subsidiary in Uzbekistan. Official Tashkent does not even contemplate it.

Despite what Uzbek media outlets are reporting, Russian businesses are not exactly comfortable in Uzbekistan. Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Andrei Sharonov spoke of "dual standards" in application to Russian companies in Uzbekistan only days ago.

"Analyzing results of Shavkat Aziz's visit to Tashkent, Uzbek political scientists cannot help noticing Karimov's turn to the brothers in faith who prefer a combination of Islam and order in the form of textbook authoritarian regimes with a Moslem penchant," Uzmetronom, the only independent Internet source in Uzbekistan, wrote.

According to Narodnoye Slovo, one of the central Uzbek newspapers, "... neither Uzbekistan nor Russia complain of any serious problems in bilateral relations." It's a blatant lie - or at least lack of knowledge of hard facts of life.

It seems that both sides are bluffing. The relations between Uzbekistan and Russia, outwardly cordial and mutually beneficial, are but an illusion Uzbekistan's crafty Asian partners are using to win over this country that desperately needs bona fide cooperation with the world beyond.

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Prime Minister of Pakistan: Our peoples share a faith, cultural values, and kindred ways and traditions. I do not doubt that our cooperation based on trust and respect and mutual interest will only strengthen.