India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held extensive bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev in Moscow this week, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Doval had also met Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. The Ministry of External Affairs said that both sides agreed to continue working towards the implementation of the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
“NSA Ajit Doval also met President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral and regional issues,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
NSA Doval also met Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and discussed bilateral defense related issues.
The Ministry of External Affairs said Doval stressed the need to ensure that the region of Afghanistan does not become a source of radicalization and terrorism either regionally or globally.
In addition, they underlined the importance of intensifying intelligence and security cooperation to combat terrorist organizations, including those designated under UN Security Council Resolution 1267.
Putin also made a comment on the situation in Afghanistan, saying, “We are also concerned about attempts to use the situation in Afghanistan to allow extra-regional powers to expand or build up their infrastructure. Obviously. Yes, the situation in the country is not improving and let us see it. The humanitarian situation is getting worse”.
India has not yet recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and has been pushing for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul.
Following the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power, India has delivered 40,000 metric tonnes of wheat, 60 tonnes of medicines, 5,00,000 Covid vaccines, winter clothing and 28 tonnes of disaster relief to the country.
India has provided fresh scholarships to 2,260 Afghan students, including 300 Afghan girls, during the last two years.
India has been advocating uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to address the humanitarian crisis it is facing.
In June last year, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a “technical team” at its embassy in the Afghan capital.
India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 following concerns over their safety.
Apart from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were represented in the meeting.
Doval’s visit to Russia came three months after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to the country, during which both sides vowed to expand their economic engagement, including India’s import of petroleum products from their “time-tested” partner.
Doval’s visit to Moscow also took place ahead of the G-20 foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to visit India on March 1 and 2 to attend the meeting.
Relations between India and Russia remained strong despite the war in Ukraine.
India’s import of Russian oil has increased significantly in the last few months.
India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been maintaining that the crisis should be resolved through diplomacy and talks
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