India and Russia will review the entire gamut of strategic and Defence ties here next month during the summit between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Afghanistan is also likely to figure prominently during the talks as both the countries are major stakeholders there.
The summit is held every year and Putin had visited India last time in 2018 and Modi went there the next year. This highest level exchange is a testimony to the time-tested ties between the two countries for more than five decades, sources said here on Thursday. The summit could not be held last year due to the ongoing corona pandemic. At least 20 summits have taken place so far.
On the forthcoming visit, likely on December 6, the sources said Putin is likely to arrive here for a day-long visit on December 6 or 7 and hold bilateral talks with Modi. Besides exploring ways to further strengthen Defence and strategic ties, Afghanistan is also likely to be accorded priority during the summit, they said.
India participated in the Moscow format of talks on Afghanistan in September and Russian National Security Adviser took part in a conclave here on Wednesday hosted by Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
Given this situation, Putin and Modi are likely to hold extensive talks on the Afghanistan issue and role of Pakistan. The Delhi Declaration on Wednesday appealed that the Afghan territory should not be used for
spreading international terrorism and radicalisation.
The two leaders will also review the ongoing fight against corona pandemic. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is being produced in India, and during the second wave, Moscow had sent humanitarian support to New Delhi.
In a related development, India and Russia are likely to hold first 2+2 dialogue later this month. The talks will feature Foreign and Defence Ministers of both countries. For the dialogue, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Moscow. The mechanism was announced in April this year, with Russia becoming the fourth country with which India has this mechanism. India already has 2+2 mechanism with the US, Japan and Australia.
Both India and Russia are expected to announce joint commission on technology and science, military-technical cooperation for the next decade 2021-2031.