Why Ajit Doval met Vladimir Putin in Moscow

India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (February 9) in Moscow. The two talked about wide-ranging issues and agreed to continue working towards implementing the strategic partnership between the two old friends.

The Indian Embassy in Moscow said the discussions were focused on bilateral and regional issues. "NSA Ajit Doval called on HE President Putin. Wide-ranging discussion on bilateral and regional issues. Agreed to continue work towards implementing the India-Russia strategic partnership," the Embassy tweeted.

🇮🇳 NSA Ajit Doval called on HE President Putin. Wide-ranging discussion on bilateral and regional issues. Agreed to continue work towards implementing the India-Russia strategic partnership. pic.twitter.com/SMHe6VI9ve

— India in Russia (@IndEmbMoscow) February 9, 2023

The NSA's visit to Russia comes three months after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar travelled to the country during which the two sides vowed to expand their economic engagement, including India's import of petroleum products from Russia.

Afghanistan issue: On Wednesday (February 8), Doval attended the fifth multilateral meeting of Secretaries of Security Councils/NSAs on Afghanistan which was hosted by Russia. Apart from the host country, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan were represented at the meeting.

• Speaking at the meeting, Doval said that India would never abandon Afghans in their time of need. "Afghanistan is passing through a difficult phase. India has a historical and special relationship with Afghanistan. Well-being and humanitarian needs of the people of Afghanistan are India's foremost priorities. This will continue to guide our approach," said Doval at the meeting.

🇮🇳NSA Ajit Doval participated in the 5th Multilateral Security Dialogue on Afghanistan in Moscow. Stressed the well-being and humanitarian needs of Afghans. He said India will never abandon the Afghan people in their time of need. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/GkWRdImRHV

— India in Russia (@IndEmbMoscow) February 8, 2023

• Doval said that focusing on food security and medical supplies, India has so far delivered 40,000 MT of wheat, 60 tonnes of medicines, 5,00,000 Covid vaccines, winter clothes, and 28 tonnes of disaster relief to Afghanistan. "India's technical team is overseeing our humanitarian assistance programme. Standing with Aghans, India has granted fresh scholarships to 2,260 Afghan students including 300 Afghan girls during the past two years," said Doval.

Putin on Afghanistan and terrorism: Talking about the situation in Afghanistan, Putin said that Russia is also worried about attempts to use the situation in Afghanistan to allow extra-regional forces to expand or build their infrastructure.

• "These countries will create this under the pretext of countering international terrorism, but they are not doing anything that is really necessary in the real counterterrorism struggle," he said.
• "Obviously, the situation in the country is not improving and we see this. The humanitarian situation is worsening," Putin said.

Doval on dealing with terrorism: During his Moscow visit, Doval emphasised the need for intensified intelligence and security cooperation to deal with Daesh and terror outfits like LeT and JeM. "An inclusive and representative dispensation is in the larger interest of Afghan society. Terrorism has become a major threat in the region," he said.

• India reaffirmed the importance of UNSCR 2593 (2021) which calls for terror outfits including those designated by UNSCR 1267 to be denied sanctuary in the region.
• "No country should be allowed to use Afghan territory to export terrorism and radicalisation. Natural resources of Afghanistan should be utilised first for the welfare of the people of Afghanistan. India is and will remain an important stakeholder in Afghanistan. We always stood by people of Afghanistan and will always support collective efforts to help Afghan people build a prosperous and vibrant nation once again," Doval said.

G-20 context: Doval's visit to Moscow at this time is also crucial as it took place ahead of the G-20 foreign ministers' meeting in Delhi. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to travel to India to attend the meeting on March 1 and 2.

Time-tested friendship: The friendly ties between India and Russia have remained strong even when most of the Western world put sanctions on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine.

• As the war in Ukraine is nearing one year, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has maintained that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
• India's import of Russian crude oil has gone up significantly in the last few months despite increasing displeasure over it in many Western countries.