Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for BRICS Summit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday emphasised the enduring nature of India-Russia relations, saying that Moscow has never done anything to impact India’s interests negatively.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, Jaishankar said, “PM Modi is going to Russia tomorrow. If you look at our history with Russia after independence, I can say that Russia has never done anything to impact our interests negatively. There are not many countries about whom you can say this.”
Acknowledging the changing dynamics in Russia’s global relationships, he said, “Today, Russia’s situation is different. Its relationship with the West has obviously broken down. So you have a Russia that is turning much more towards Asia.”
Jaishankar argued that as an Asian nation, India should leverage opportunities that align with its national interests.
“Russia as a major natural resource power has a complementarity with India at this stage of development when we are big resource consumers…You will always keep a relationship with the further away country in very, very good state…,” he added.
On his visit to Pakistan, Jaishankar said that he did not meet Nawaz Sharif, who had described Jaishankar’s Islamabad trip for SCO meet as a “good beginning” and a “good opening”.
“I did not meet him (Nawaz Sharif) I went there for the SCO meeting…We were very supportive of the Pakistani presidency of SCO…‘Gaye waha, mile sabse haath milaya, had a good meeting aur aa gaye wapas’…,” said the External Affairs Minister.
Interacting with a group of Indian journalists at the office of the Chief Minister of Pakistan Punjab where Maryam Sharif, daughter and CM, was also present, Sharif had said that his country’s relationship with India should not be held captive by the past and both the nations should “bury the past” and “think of the future.”
He held former Pakistan PM Imran Khan for deterioration in relations between the two countries.
With inputs from agencies
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Russia never impacted India’s interests negatively, says Jaishankar
