Explorer

Russian envoy to India: Pak has taken 'serious measures' to curb terror funding

His remarks come as ties between Russia and Pakistan appear to grow.

New Delhi: The Russian envoy to India, Nikolay Kudashev, said on Tuesday that Pakistan has taken "serious measures" to curb terror financing and shown the desire to be a part of global and regional efforts to fight the menace. His remarks come as ties between Russia and Pakistan appear to grow. In September last year, the two countries held a two-week long military exercise - DRUZBA 2017 - focusing on counter-terrorism operations to boost bilateral defence ties. Kudashev, however, said it would not be correct to say that Russia was getting closer to Pakistan as Moscow's relations with New Delhi "are unique and second to no one". Responding to a question on whether Russia sees Pakistan as a reliable partner to address its interest in Afghanistan, the envoy said the integrity of Pakistan was growing. "The credit (must) be given to Islamabad. After this country joined the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), it started taking serious measures to curb the financing of terror... The integrity of Pakistan is growing and there is no reason to deny its wish, its desire to be part of regional and global efforts to fight terror," Kudashev said in his address at the Ananta Aspen Centre's Ambassador Series in New Delhi. Russia is a key strategic partner of India and its major supplier of defence equipment. India has been maintaining that Pakistan is the "global epicentre of terrorism". But Kudashev said the problems in Afghanistan would be impossible to solve without taking on board every neighbouring country. "This logic also guides us towards further developing relations with Pakistan, which is, on the other hand, Russia's historic and important regional partner as well. These ties are not emanating from the regional balance of power equations, but growing on their own merits," he said. "Importantly, we don't look at the situation in the region from the point of view of bilateral disputes, which we are not in a position to interfere or take sides," he said. Kudashev, a career diplomat and specialist on South East Asia, was appointed Russia's Ambassador to India in August. On China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, he said Russia was ready to cooperate with China on BRI, saying it views the controversial project from an economic perspective. The BRI aims to link Asian and European markets through a maze of rail, road and shipping networks. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a part of BRI and India opposes CPEC as it runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Replying to another question, Kudashev hoped that major defence deals, including the one to deliver the Kamov helicopters to India, should be sealed after Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Russia this month. Asked about the Russian response to air strikes on it ally Syria by the US, France and the UK, he said there would be a response but within the framework of the international law. "No body should expect us to follow the American adventursim and provoke conflict in other parts of the world." He said after the Islamic State was defeated in Iraq and Syria, the terror group spread its influence in the eastern and northern provinces in Afghanistan and began penetrating Central Asia states "fuelling radicalisation in local Muslim communities and calling for a global jihad". This is of immediate concern for Russia since it has robust people-to-people contacts with these nations, he said.
View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headline

One-Third Of India Never Votes — Why Turnout Varies From Over 80% In Bengal To Under 60% In UP
One-Third Of India Never Votes — Why Turnout Varies From Over 80% In Bengal To Under 60% In UP
'We Are All Judged By What We Do At Home': MEA Responds To Pro-Palestine Protests At US Varsities
'We Are All Judged By What We Do At Home': MEA Responds To Pro-Palestine Protests At US Varsities
India Delivers BrahMos To Manila. But Nothing Changes For New Delhi In Indo-Pacific Vis-à-vis China
India Delivers BrahMos To Manila. But Nothing Changes For New Delhi In Indo-Pacific Vis-à-vis China
'CM Denied Basic Facilities, Monitored 24 Hours': AAP's Big Charge Of 'Torture On Kejriwal' Against PMO, L-G
'CM Denied Basic Facilities, Monitored 24 Hours': AAP's Big Charge Of 'Torture On Kejriwal' Against PMO, L-G
Advertisement
for smartphones
and tablets

Videos

Lok Sabha Elections: Why mention Mangalsutra after the first phase of elections, what is BJP's plan?2nd Phase Voting 2024: Voting on 13 seats in Rajasthan on April 26th. Whose fate is at stake?Independent candidates have disrupted sleep: Pawan Singh | Manish Kashyap | Ravindra Bhati | Anand MishraSalman Khan Attack: Salman Khan is in Dubai, who is Salman Khan's new Pakistani friend?

Photogallery

Embed widget