India and Russia are exploring the possibility of setting up a joint mechanism to counter the increasing threats from the militant groups in Afghanistan.
The situation in Afghanistan, in the context of developments in the region, came in for discussion when visiting Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev met National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval in New Delhi last week.
According to informed sources, the two security czars discussed counter-terrorism measures and India-Russia military and technical cooperation apart from regional issues. They also touched issues like outer space, energy, and cybersecurity during the meeting. Patrushev also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India and Russia have been having regularly holding intense dialogues on all global issues as part of their strategic partnership. India had also participated in the multilateral meeting on Afghanistan hosted by Moscow last month at a non-official level. The Taliban also attended this key meeting for the first time.
According to Indian officials, there could be more multilateral meets on Afghanistan in the coming weeks and months to find ways to stabilise the situation in the embattled nation.
The meeting between Doval and the Russian official came nearly two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India for the annual summit between the two countries. During the summit, the two countries signed the landmark S-400 missile defence systems deal with New Delhi virtually ignoring the threat of US sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
The naval chief Admiral Sunil Lanba was also in Russia recently to hold talks with Russian military top brass. India has shown interest in sending its military personnel to the military academy of the general staff of the Russian armed forces.
The issue is also likely to be discussed further when Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu visits India soon to co-chair with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman a meeting of the inter-governmental commission on military cooperation.
Chairman of the State Duma Viacheslav Volodin is already in India for a meeting of the inter-parliamentary committee.
Meanwhile, PM Modi has been invited as the main guest at the next Eastern Economic Forum, which will be held in Vladivostok in September next year. India and Russia are also planning to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their strategic partnership in a grand fashion.