India-Russia ties have traditionally been strong. This is most evident in the defence sector, where an overwhelmingly large number of military hardware Indians use is of Russian-origin. On the diplomatic front too, New Delhi and Moscow have been careful to not be seen on opposing ends. There are historical reasons for this relationship, but in recent times there have been indications of some kind of distancing, with Russia taking positions that have not pleased India.
Ordinarily, one would explain this away as routine recalibration in the changing geo-political scenario. After all, even New Delhi has shifted from its over-dependence on Russia for its defence needs and has been doing far greater business with the likes of Israel, the US and France to acquire cutting-edge military technology. Still, there are red lines that both countries have not crossed to ensure that their unique relationship, which was shaped almost immediately after Indian gained freedom, remained robust.
Moscow’s recent outreach to Pakistan in terms of providing that country military help, has, however, rung alarm bells in New Delhi, although India has been careful to play it down. By seeking to help Islamabad, Russia has overturned its decades-long policy of not assisting Pakistan militarily. But even this was accepted, albeit with reservations, by India, even as Russia signalled that its decision would not in any way dilute its ‘special’ relationship with New Delhi. But it will not be so easy to brush aside Moscow’s latest remark that Pakistan had been taking strong measures to counter terrorism from within and outside. The endorsement came from Russia’s envoy to India and is understandably irritating to India.
Surely Russia cannot be unaware of Pakistan’s persistent efforts to export terrorism into India and its malevolent intent in Kashmir. It cannot have forgotten the Uri and the Pathankot incidents. Moscow cannot simply ignore remarks that keep coming from various Pakistani leaders, which endorse violent plans of action in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, can Russia refuse to admit the role Pakistan has been playing in fomenting unrest in neighbouring Afghanistan and Bangladesh? it does appear that Moscow is allowing itself to be misled in the same manner that the US did over the past decades, despite mounds of evidence about Pakistan’s sinister designs.
Understandably, therefore, New Delhi has decided to send a signal in its own way: the joint statement between the UK and India released during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the UK, referred unflatteringly, to the incident where a former spy had become a victim of a nerve gas attack which was allegedly plotted by Russia. Although Russia was not named in the statement, the inference is clear. The onus is on Moscow to redeem the historic India-Russia relationship.
Image courtesy: www.en.kremlin.ru
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