| |
Following London conference which recommended reconciliation of Taliban, the National security advisers (NSA) of India and Russia will hold talks on Monday to discuss the new strategy of integrating the Taliban militiants in Afghanistan which is a cause of concern to both countries.
National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon will discuss the matter with his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation - the first foreign NSA to visit New Delhi since Menon took charge a week ago.
"Negotiations are expected to focus on topical issues of regional and international security, development of multifaceted Russian-Indian cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats," the Russian embassy said on Sunday while announcing Patrushev's visit.
The embassy said the agenda ranges from exchange of opinions on such urgent problems of fight against international terrorism to illegal production and trafficking of drugs.
Tasks and prospects of interaction between special services to ensure security, regional peace and stability of both the countries are also a matter of discussion, the embassy said.
In the wake of a Western proposal of reintegrating and power-sharing with the Taliban in Afghanistan, the two sides are likely to discuss enhanced counter-terror cooperation and the shifting strategic situation in Afghanistan.
Being uncomfortable with accommodating the Taliban in any power-sharing arrangement in Afghanistan, both India and Russia have lamented over the contrived distinction between the so-called good and bad Taliban.
The visit takes place over a month after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Russia that led to the signing of a bilateral nuclear accord and defence pacts.
