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Russia-Pak ties not at the cost of India: Ivanov
New Delhi, June 16: Russia today assured India that its desire to improve ties with Pakistan would not be at the cost of New Delhi.
New Delhi, June 16: Russia today assured India that its desire to improve ties with Pakistan would not be at the cost of New Delhi.
The assurance was given by the Russian Foreign Minister
Igor Ivanov at a 45 minute meeting with the Defence Minister
George Fernandes.
"Any improvement in ties with Islamabad would not be at the cost of our long standing relationship with New Delhi", Ivanov told newsmen after the meeting.
The Russian Minister's remarks assumes significance as it comes in the wake of his just concluded visit to Islamabad, where Pakistani military authorities reportedly evinced keen interest in the purchase of strategic Russian weaponary including missile shields and aircraft.
Officials said India and Russia held wide ranging talks on cooperation in combating terrorism, defence technology tie-ups as well on prevailing situation in the region during the meeting .
Ivanov, who arrived here late last night, is also understood to have discussed certain key Russian defence sales to India, particularly the acquisition by Indian navy of the Admrial Gorshkov aircraft carrier.
The negotiations for the multi-million dollar deal are almost at the final stages with the deal likely to be signed very soon, defence officials said.
Fernandes briefed the Russian Minister about the situation on the Indo-Pak border, conveying that the level of infiltration across the Line of Control had not reduced despite peace overtures by India.
Bureau Report
"Any improvement in ties with Islamabad would not be at the cost of our long standing relationship with New Delhi", Ivanov told newsmen after the meeting.
The Russian Minister's remarks assumes significance as it comes in the wake of his just concluded visit to Islamabad, where Pakistani military authorities reportedly evinced keen interest in the purchase of strategic Russian weaponary including missile shields and aircraft.
Officials said India and Russia held wide ranging talks on cooperation in combating terrorism, defence technology tie-ups as well on prevailing situation in the region during the meeting .
Ivanov, who arrived here late last night, is also understood to have discussed certain key Russian defence sales to India, particularly the acquisition by Indian navy of the Admrial Gorshkov aircraft carrier.
The negotiations for the multi-million dollar deal are almost at the final stages with the deal likely to be signed very soon, defence officials said.
Fernandes briefed the Russian Minister about the situation on the Indo-Pak border, conveying that the level of infiltration across the Line of Control had not reduced despite peace overtures by India.
Bureau Report