India-Russia convergence of interest on tackling terrorism

23 Feb, 2002    ·   704

Pari Velan highlights the contours of the Indo-Russian interests in tackling terrorism
India has long been the victim of cross-border terrorism, particularly after the December 13 attack on its Parliament. Thereafter India has been massing its troops on the Indo-Pak border to pressure Pakistan and contain its overt and covert support to cross-border terrorism. India wants tangible and concrete steps to be taken by Pakistan against militant groups based there or Pakistan controlled ‘Azad Kashmir’. Tension has mounted on the borders and the world community has taken a serious note of its consequences. India clearly wants to seize this opportunity arising from the international campaign against terrorism in the post- September 11 period. Secondly, it wants to ensure that there cannot be dual approaches by Pakistan to contain terrorism – to appease the US and West whilst continuing its tacit support to militancy in India . Thirdly, it wanted to highlight before the world community the intensity and magnitude of cross-border terrorism affecting India . By coincidence, the 1st October bomb blast near the J&K assembly, December 13 attack on the Indian Parliament and the shoot-out near the US embassy in Kolkota, have also highlighted Pakistan ’s links with cross-border terrorism, justifying the Indian position. 

 

 

What is the Russian position on all this? The Russian federation is itself a major victim of cross-border terrorism in Chechnya and Dagestan , aided and abetted from outside. There were a series of bombings in and around Moscow before they initiated a massive military campaign in Chechnya in 1999/2000 to contain the militancy. Second, the links of the Chechen/ Dagestan rebels with the Taliban and Al-Queda network was apparent. So, after the September 11 attacks in the US , the Russian position confirms with the global campaign led by the US . Russia has linked Osama bin Laden with the Afghan militia in Chechnya . The Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined five areas for cooperation with the US operation in Afghanistan , and called for a stronger UN role . He promised: (i) Russian airspace for humanitarian missions; (ii) Russian intelligence on the infrastructure and location of international terrorists; (iii) Russian participation in search and rescue operations (which has not been implemented); (iv) Russian agreement with its Central Asian allies on the use of their airspace for humanitarian missions; and, finally, (v) cooperation with the Afghan military opposition ( Northern Alliance ).

 

 

Russian appreciation of India ’s position is evident from the announcements Moscow made after the attack on the Indian Parliament.  Russia has strongly supported India ’s fight against terrorism and is willing to forge closer political and military cooperation. The Deputy Chief of the Russian Security Council, Oleg Chernov, who visited India in January 2002, pointed out that, “The barbarous act of terrorism committed by Islamic extremists on Dec 13 in Indian Parliament premises highlighted once again the pressing need to take the most drastic and harsh measures against those who trample upon the most precious gift of right to life”. He added that Russia fully understood India ’s position on terrorism and that Pakistan must act effectively on its commitment to eradicate terrorism. The head of the Lower House Defence Committee, Andrei Nikolayev, stated that, “ Russia is willing to enter into close political-military and military-technical cooperation with India in the fight against terrorism”.

 

 

The visits of Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov to India have sent out strong signals regarding the convergence of interests between Russia and India on tackling the menace of international and cross-border terrorism. Russia ’s endorsement of the Indian position was reflected in their views, when both urged Islamabad to demonstrate its intentions by taking tangible action against terrorists operating from its soil. Russia views international and cross-border terrorism as a major source of global instability. It affects trade, economy and development. They understand its menace to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India . Now the standoff between India and Pakistan on the border has serious consequences, which includes a nuclear catastrophe. As Foreign Minister Ivanov pointed out, “We will strive to confine the situation to the political framework and prevent the crisis from flaring into an armed conflict, which would have extremely dire consequences for both countries and for the region as a whole, especially considering the nuclear factor”.  

 

 

 

POPULAR COMMENTARIES