Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday underscored India’s deep strategic convergence with Russia on combating terrorism, declaring that the two nations “walk together in the fight against terrorism”. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a joint statement with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, following high-level bilateral talks that covered security, defence, trade, and global geopolitical challenges.
The statement reaffirmed the longstanding cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow on counter-terrorism, an area in which Russia has consistently taken positions aligned with India’s core concerns. Moscow has been a vocal supporter of India’s efforts to counter cross-border terrorism, particularly when Pakistan-based extremist organisations have targeted Indian security and civilian establishments.
Russia’s support was evident earlier this year after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which was linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. Strongly condemning the strike, Moscow declared that it “stands in solidarity with India for elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”, emphasising that the global fight against terror requires uncompromising commitment. Russia’s firm backing also extended to Operation Sindoor—India’s targeted military response aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and in territories of Kashmir illegally occupied by that country.
Against this backdrop, the Modi-Putin meeting on Friday served to reinforce a shared strategic resolve. The joint statement reflected continuity in India–Russia defence cooperation while also expanding bilateral engagement into domains such as economic collaboration, energy security, and connectivity. Among the key outcomes was the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the shipping sector, opening avenues for enhanced maritime cooperation and potentially contributing to Indo-Russian connectivity through new trade corridors.
Global geopolitical developments, particularly Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, also featured prominently in the discussions. The conflict, which has persisted since February 2022 and continues despite intermittent diplomatic initiatives—including interventions by United States President Donald Trump—remains a central preoccupation for the international community.
President Putin thanked Prime Minister Modi for India’s sustained diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict and acknowledged the Prime Minister’s role as a “champion of peace”. He described the dialogue with Modi as “very informative and useful”, noting that he had shared details of a new plan for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The Russian leader’s remarks highlighted India’s unique position as a trusted interlocutor capable of engaging constructively with all sides.
Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s consistent stance that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable pathways to sustainable peace. He emphasised that the international community must continue to prioritise humanitarian concerns and stability while encouraging constructive negotiations.
The bilateral engagement in Delhi reaffirmed the resilience of the India–Russia partnership amid a rapidly evolving global landscape. With counter-terrorism cooperation at its core and expanding collaboration across multiple sectors, the meeting reflected both nations’ intent to deepen their strategic alignment while jointly advocating for peace, stability, and a rules-based international order.
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