Reiterating that it shares a "privileged strategic partnership" with India, Russia on Wednesday said it favours a large and open regional architecture in Asia Pacific, besides a non-bloc alliance following international norms. Making this point, Russian Ambassador to New Delhi Nikolay Kudashev also said ties with Pakistan cannot be equated with India.
The Russian envoy's observations about an open regional relationship between various countries came in the backdrop of a possible India, Japan, US and Australia quadrilateral for deeper co-operation especially in the security domain in Asia Pacific region. Fielding questions on this possibility, Kudashev said there should be "open cooperation" among all countries and stressed the need for a non- bloc regional "architecture."
The US is keen for strengthening India-US cooperation in the India-Pacific region. Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono said last week that Tokyo favours a dialogue between Japan, the US, India and Australia to further boost strategic partnership.
Addressing a Press conference after the successful completion of the 10-day first ever tri-Service exercise INDRA in Russia, the Ambassador also said it is up to the member countries to forge alliances in a bloc or a non-bloc relationship adding India is a sovereign and responsible country to make up its mind on the issue. He said Russia wants "open" space for all stake holders in the region.
When asked about its joint exercise with Pakistan in Russia recently, Kudashev said Moscow's partnership with New Delhi is "second to none" and cannot be compared with its relationship with Pakistan. He also said the purpose of last month's military drill with Pakistan was counter-terror co-operation.
While highlighting that his country has a "privileged" strategic relationship with India, he said "we have a normal inter-state relationship with Pakistan," adding relations between India and Russia cannot be equated with the latter's ties with Pakistan. He also said the exercise with Pakistan was held to reach out to reasonable elements in the Government there to co-operate in fighting terrorism.
Asked about China's indication that it may once again block the US, France and UK's bid to list Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, he evaded a direct reply and said "I cannot reply for China. It is a sovereign country."
He said Russia and China are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) where there is ample agenda to fight terrorism," adding the other common challenges are drugs and crime.
As regards the INDRA exercise, chairman Integrated Defence Staff lt General Satish Dua, the drill which ended on Tuesday in Vladivostok saw more than 900 Indian soldiers, sailors and air warriors participating along with over 1,000 personnel from the Russian defence forces. The Russian envoy said the endeavor in future will be to deploy more sophisticated weaponry of both the countries for this kind of an exercise.