Will not supply arms to Pakistan

Russia has reassured India that it would not supply arms to Pakistan while promising to give priority to India's needs for advanced military systems, according to defence sources.

Russia would also engage actively with India to ensure the success of the 'Make in India' programme and participate in a big way in the Aero India Exhibition to be held in February next year, Russian defence minister Gen Sergei Shoigu told Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh during bilateral talks in Moscow on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' meeting.

The one-hour meeting was marked by the traditional warmth and friendship, characteristic of the special and privileged partnership between the two countries with the two sides focusing on intensifying military technical cooperation and military-to-military cooperation, the Defence Ministry said.

The two ministers covered a broad range of areas of cooperation between their two countries. It was noted that this meeting coincides with the Indra Naval Exercises to be conducted by the Indian and Russia navies off the Straits of Malacca over the next two days. Singh noted that these exercises demonstrated the common interests of both countries in maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.

The two ministers welcomed the advance stage of discussions for the establishment in India of an India- Russian Joint Venture for the production of AK203 assault rifles which are considered one of the most modern weapons available for infantry forces. This provides a very positive basis for further engagement of the Russian defence industry in the 'Make in India' programme.