India & Russia

[Guest guest]

Putin's plain talking on J&K music to India's ears

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin bids goodbye in traditional Indian

style, Namaskar, before boarding the presidential aircraft. (AP)

 

www.timesofindia.com

 

NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed New Delhi's

stand that talks with Islamabad were possible only after Pakistan

stopped supporting cross-border terrorism, and lashed out at the

Taliban's ``external patrons.'' The move is being seen as Moscow's

efforts to put at rest Indian apprehensions over Russia's emerging

ties with Pakistan. Moscow's position has been outlined in the joint

Indo-Russian statement issued at the end of Putin's visit on Thursday.

 

Reaffirming its support for New Delhi's efforts to ``normalise

relations with Pakistan on the basis of the 1972 Shimla Agreement,''

Russia ``appreciated the position of India that the composite

dialogue as part of the Lahore process could be resumed only when

necessary measures are taken for cessation of support for cross-

border terrorism and for respect of the Line of Control.''

 

Similarly, the statement pointedly mentioned the ``official support''

for the forces of religious extremism, out to destabilise the entire

region. The two sides asked ``these authorities'' to contain and

eliminate these forces.

 

The statement, released here an hour after Putin left Mumbai for

Moscow, said both sides condemned ``States that aid, abet and

directly support cross-border and international terrorism.'' The

statement also called for a ``solid international legal basis'' for

cooperation in combating international terrorism, including the

adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism

and the Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.

 

The joint statement urged the Taliban and -- in what will again be

seen as a reference to Pakistan -- ``its external patrons, especially

States extending direct military support to them,'' to get back to

peaceful negotiations for establishing a broad-based government in

Afghanistan. It also mentioned the decision to set up an Indo-Russian

joint working group on Afghanistan.

 

Similarly, the statement pointedly mentioned the ``official support''

for the forces of religious extremism, out to destabilise the entire

region. The two sides asked ``these authorities'' to contain and

eliminate these forces.

 

There have been other references to terrorism in the region and the

threat from the Taliban during Putin's five-day visit, but nothing as

categorical as the joint statement. Editorials in Pakistani media

had, in fact, noted with some satisfaction that Putin had called for

talks and "compromise" on Kashmir. But Thursday's statement comes

very close to suggesting that Pakistan backs terrorism in Kashmir.

 

Russia also appreciated ``measures taken by India for combating

terrorism and ushering in normalcy in Jammu & Kashmir.'' In return,

India has supported steps taken by Russia in Chechnya to protect its

``territorial integrity and Constitutional order.'' Both sides also

condemned terrorist activity in Central Asian countries bordering

Russia.

 

The two sides promised to continue efforts for complete nuclear

disarmament, called for a ``non-discriminatory mechanism'' to prevent

global proliferation of missiles and missile technology, and said

they were ready to work on banning future production of weapons-grade

fissile material.

 

``Russia welcomed India's voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing and

appreciated the Indian Government's efforts to develop a broad

national consensus on the issue of the Comprehensive Test Ban

Treaty,'' the statement said.