India, Russia Hold 7th Round of Security Talks on Pakistan and Afghanistan in Delhi

 New Delhi: The seventh round of talks under the ‘India-Russia Special Mechanism on Pakistan and Afghanistan’ was held in New Delhi on Wednesday. It was co-chaired by India’s Deputy National Security Adviser, Mr. Pavan Kapoor and Russia’s Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, Mr. Aleksandr Venediktov. During his visit, Mr. Venediktov also called on National Security Adviser, Mr. Ajit Doval.

The dialogue provides a bilateral channel for the two countries to coordinate their assessments of security developments involving Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said both sides held wide-ranging discussions on issues of common interest, including their impact on international security. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their ongoing cooperation under the aegis of ‘India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’, it added.

Earlier, Russia had conveyed that it is ready to provide any assistance to help end the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan. “Russia is ready to assist in ending this conflict in any possible, permissible way — either on its own or in partnership with our other partners — provided that both sides make such a request. We are ready to provide the maximum possible assistance,” said the Russian President’s special representative Zamir Kabulov after a meeting of the Moscow Format of consultations on Afghanistan on October 5.

During the meeting India had backed Afghanistan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and said it remains committed to the welfare of the Afghan people.