Doval in Moscow: NSA calls on Prez Putin, discusses India-Russia strategic partnership

Moscow: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday called on Russian President Vladimir Putin and agreed to continue work towards implementing the India-Russia strategic partnership.

Doval, who is in Moscow at present for the fifth Multilateral Meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils and National Security Advisers on Afghanistan also held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral and regional issues with Putin, according to the Indian Embassy in Moscow.

Taking to Twitter, the official handle of the Embassy of India in Russia wrote, "NSA Ajit Doval called on HE President Putin. Wide-ranging discussion on bilateral and regional issues. Agreed to continue work towards implementing the India-Russia strategic partnership."

Doval on Afghanistan

Ajit Doval also reiterated the call for an inclusive and representative government in Kabul and the need for collective efforts to fight terrorism.

Sources told news agency ANI said Doval noted that no country should be allowed to use Afghan territory to export terrorism and natural resources of Afghanistan should be utilised first for the welfare of its people.

Issues related to Afghanistan discussed

Various issues related to Afghanistan were also discussed, including the security situation and humanitarian challenges facing the country.A part from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were represented at the meeting.

The NSA said India is and will remain an important stakeholder in Afghanistan. He said India always stood by the people of Afghanistan and will always support collective efforts to help the Afghan people build a prosperous and vibrant nation once again.

The Embassy of India in Russia said in a tweet that NSA Doval stressed the well-being and humanitarian needs of Afghans.

Humanitarian needs of Afghans

"NSA Ajit Doval participated in the 5th Multilateral Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Moscow. Stressed the well-being and humanitarian needs of Afghans. He said India will never abandon the Afghan people in their time of need," the Indian embassy said.

"He reiterated the call for an inclusive and representative government in Afghanistan and the need for collective efforts to fight terrorism," it added.

The third round of the Multilateral Security Dialogue on Afghanistan was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of NSA Ajit Doval in November 2021. The fourth meeting was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in May 2022. 

(With additional information from ANI)