Modi-Putin: Brothers in arms

Russian Prez showers India with praise, says, “India great power, friendly nation, time-tested friend”

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: In only his second visit abroad since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, Russian President Vladimir Putin underscored the importance he accorded ties with “time-tested friend” India, lavishing praise on the “friendly country,” by calling it a “great power.”

But in a sign that relations with China may not be all that it seems after the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and the dangers posed by Central Asian terror groups linked to the Taliban, Putin’s call for greater co-operation on terror was keen- l y watched around the world. The “fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crime” dominated the one on one meet between the Russian President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

“Naturally, we are concerned about everything that has to do with terrorism…the fight against terrorism and the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime,” Putin said. “In this regard, of course, “it is natural, we cannot but be concerned about the situation and how it is developing in Afghanistan,” he said.

Modi responded by saying “Despite the challenges posed by Covid, there is no change in the pace of growth of India- Russia relations. Our special and privileged strategic partnership continues to become stronger.”