Afghanistan in focus: NSA Ajit Doval to meet Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev today

Russian NSA Gen Nikolay Patrushev is visiting India on September 7-8 as part of first high level mechanism meeting on Afghanistan with his Indian counterpart A K Doval as decided during the phone call between President Vladimir Putin and PM Narendra Modi on August 24.

India has stepped up coordination with Russia on the Afghan situation with Moscow echoing India’s wait and watch approach before recognising the new regime in Kabul.

Russia is among the important players in Afghanistan and the partnership with Russia that is yet to lift ban from Taliban is being viewed significant to safeguard Indian interests in the landlocked country, according to informed sources. It may be recalled that Moscow had played a key role in negotiating with the Taliban to facilitate movement of Indian diplomats including the envoy from chancery to airport on the night of August 16 following the Taliban takeover.



On Monday Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev told a select group of reporters that Moscow's position on Afghanistan is ‘very close’ to that of New Delhi and that Russia "will wait and watch" before recognising the government in Kabul while expressing concern over terror threats emanating from the landlocked country.

Doval and Patrushev who share a strong chemistry met few months back in Dushanbe on the sidelines BRICS NSA meet for over a two hour meeting that among other issues also focussed on Afghanistan.

Patrushev’s visit is also taking place on the eve of BRICS Summit under India’s chairship. The BRICS Summit that will adopt counter-terror action plan based on 2020 Moscow BRICS Declaration will witness threadbare discussion on Afghanistan and terror infrastructure. Last month Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran had travelled to Moscow to meet Patrushev and his deputy to develop better coordination on the unfolding situation in the Afghan theatre.

Patrushev, a close aide of Putin, will also meet PM Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. During the August 24 phone call the two leaders decided to form a permanent bilateral channel for consultations on Afghanistan and Afghan-based terror. ET had earlier reported that the mechanism will be established at a senior level.

Moscow remains extremely wary of spillover of radical ideas and terrorism into Central Asia from Afghanistan that has potential of impacting Russia. In this context they have undertaken joint military exercises with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and has activated CSTO.

While New Delhi and Moscow have stepped up engagements this year including visits to each other’s capitals by respective Foreign Ministers besides trip by Foreign Secretary, the month of August witnessed closer interactions. Putin was the only P-5 President to attend the India-initiated maritime security meet in UNSC early August. This was considered as a show of support to Modi with whom Putin shares a strong chemistry and a signal to the other powers.

Last week Modi delivered a virtual address at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in the presence of Putin. Oil and Gas Minister Hardeep Puri represented India at the Forum to expand energy, trade and maritime cooperation bridge with both sides seeking to step up energy partnership in Far East Russia and Arctic besides downstream activities.