New Delhi, December 1
India received a shot in the arm in its fight against terrorism and highlighting Pakistan’s role in backing terrorists around the world with Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing concern that the Weapons of Mass Destruction
(WMD) with Islamabad could fall into the hands of ‘bandits and
terrorists’.
Mr Putin’s statement came just days before he makes his second visit to India. The two countries are also expected to sign a declaration on fighting terrorism together during his 36-hour visit to India.
In an interview to a TV channel and a national daily given at Kremlin, Mr Putin also expressed fear that despite assurances from President Musharraf that the weapons with his military were in safe hands anxiety was still persisting regarding their safety.
He said Russia had taken note of the statements made by President Musharraf that the military potential of his country was safely protected and strictly under control, “but, to be frank, our concerns, our anxiety still persists”.
“What we are worried about is not only the fact that the WMD could fall into the hands of bandits and terrorists (this is exactly how I would like to call these persons rather than just militants), but we also have concerns they (terrorists) could obtain information concerning production techniques of even simple means that could be equal to the WMD in their
destructive potential,” he said.
The Russian President said personally he did not have any information that Pakistan was transferring military technologies or weapons’ systems to some other countries.
Mr Putin welcomed the decision taken by both India and Pakistan to pull back their troops from international border and described it as a “movement absolutely in the right direction”.
To a question on the significance of his visit to India directly from China and on the trilateral cooperation between India, China and Russia, Putin said “we are concerned of the need for positive development about relations between Russia and India, Russia and China and China and India.”
To another question about Russia providing China with weaponry similar to what it provides to India, he said “Russia was an active player in the international weapons market which was highly competitive”.
Mr Putin admitted that bilateral Indo-Russian trade turnover was “inadmissibly low.”
Both countries should pay more attention in the area of joint investment and establishment of joint ventures and in the area of military technical cooperation, he said.
Asked about Russia’s
approach to India’s possible entry to the ‘Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’, Mr Putin said it was an open organisation and Russia was prepared to engage in consultation with Indian partners and others within the SCO on the Indian interest.
