India, Russia coordinate on Afghanistan

New Delhi: Amid deteriorating Afghanistan-Pakistan ties, Delhi and Moscow are seeking to coordinate their approaches in the Af-Pak theatre to combat extremism, cross-border terror threats and assist the Taliban in consolidating its position.

Russia's foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin visited Kabul this week and held a meeting with Afghan intelligence head Mawlawi Abdul Haq Wasiq.

While both sides didn't disclose details of the meeting, it is understood that the two senior officials discussed coordinating their respective strategies with regard to countering cross-border terror threats, its spillover impact into Eurasia and worsening Af-Pak ties.


Russia is the first country to officially grant full diplomatic recognition and establish formal bilateral ties with the Taliban government besides inking a defence pact.

Meanwhile, Russia's Deputy NSA met his Indian counterpart to discuss the Af-Pak situation and cross-border terror emanating from Pakistan.