Russian NSA in India Monday, to discuss Taliban, terror

NEW DELHI - With the London conference clearing the way for reconciliation with the Taliban, national security advisers (NSA) of India and Russia will meet Monday to share views on the new strategy of integrating the hardline militia in Afghanistan that is a cause of concern to both countries.

National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev, secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation - the first foreign NSA to visit New Delhi since Menon assumed charge a week ago.

“Negotiations are expected to focus on topical issues of regional and international security, development of multifaceted Russian-Indian cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats,” the Russian embassy said here Sunday while announcing Patrushev’s visit.

The agenda includes exchange of opinions on such urgent problems as fight against international terrorism, illegal production and trafficking of drugs, the embassy said.

Tasks and prospects of interaction between special services in the interests of ensuring security of our two countries, regional peace and stability are also a matter of discussion, the embassy said.

The two sides are likely to discuss enhanced counter-terror cooperation and the shifting strategic situation in Afghanistan in the wake of a Western proposal of reintegrating and power-sharing with the Taliban in that country.

Both India and Russia are not comfortable with accommodating the Taliban in any power-sharing arrangement in Afghanistan and have resented any contrived distinction between the so-called good and bad Taliban.

The visit takes place over a month after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Russia that led to the signing of a bilateral nuclear accord and defence pacts.