India, Russia share views on developments in Pakistan

New Delhi, Nov 17 (UNI) Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Dr V Nikonov, head of a very influential Russian political think tank, seen as close to Kremlin,today said both the countries shared similar views on the developments in Pakistan.

Dr Nikonov said Russia had always supported India's stand on the Kashmir issues and was in agreement with its view on many other regional issues.

He said his country shared India's concern over the continuing instability in the neighbouring country.

Describing Russia as a very important strategic partner, Mr Menon said, ''We have similar and identical views on the developments in Pakistan''.

The two were speaking at a seminar' Changing Patterns of Indo-Russian Cooperation' organised by the ORF Foundation and the Polity Foundation of Russia ahead of the visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to India early next month.

The Foreign Secretary underlined the fact that the two countries have perfect understanding of each other's approach irrespective of the shift in Centres of power in the world.

The sources of this continuity were the congruence of geographical, historical and political factors between the two countries, he said.

Dr Nikonov said India and Russia were unique Centre of power which never had any conflict or confrontation.

He said the world was passing through a very severe economic crisis, and at the end of the crisis, there would be less people who would question the fact of a multipolar world which India and Russia share.

He also said Russia was not jealous of growing Indo-US relations, but had full understanding of its approach to world relations.

UNI NAZ PD PK BST1741