MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Russia has sent Pakistan a draft contract on the delivery of four Mil Mi-35M (NATO reporting name: Hind E) combat helicopters, a source in the Russian system of military and technical cooperation said on Wednesday.

"Following the results of the talks held earlier on helicopters, which Pakistan would like to get from Russia, a draft contract on the delivery of four Mi-35M gunships has been sent to the Pakistani side. Pakistan is now studying the document," the source said.

Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport told TASS that talks were under way with the Pakistani side on the delivery of helicopters. Rosoboronexport declined to disclose the details of these consultations.

Russia’s Rostec hi-tech corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov said last year Russia had lifted its embargo on the delivery of armaments and military hardware to Pakistan and was holding negotiations on the delivery of helicopters to that country.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry later said the sides were negotiating the delivery of a batch of Mi-35 helicopters. Pakistan currently has several Mi-17 helicopters transferred by the United States as assistance in the fight against militants.

The Mi-35M is a profoundly modernized version of the Mi-24 (Hind) attack helicopter with new avionics and onboard equipment, a different tail rotor and a more powerful engine.