Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for restricted talks as the eighth Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa summit on Saturday as it began in Goa, ANI reported. The two sides are expected to hold talks on issues including defence and counter-terrorism, according to Indian spokesperson Vikas Swarup. India will also hold bilateral meetings with China and South Africa, Swarup said.
India’s worsening relations with Pakistan is likely to be the major focus for all the countries. India is expected to try and garner support on its stand that Pakistan must act against militant outfits on its soil. Pakistan, on its part, will look to boost its relationship with China and Russia, both countries with which it has had friendly contact in the past few months.
According to The Indian Express, Chinese President Xi Jinping will urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resume dialogue with Islamabad, which have been largely frozen since the Pathankot attacks in January. Pakistan is believed to have reached out to China on the matter. India, however, has been wary of China’s position in the conflict, believing that it favours Pakistan. China has repeatedly voted against designating Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar an international terrorist in the United Nations Security Council. India believes Azhar was behind both the Pathankot and Uri attacks.
Modi is also expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Kremlin conducting joint military exercises with Pakistan immediately after the Uri attacks, The Times of India reported.
Other matters that are likely to be discussed are the development of the Bay of Bengal region and the Syrian civil war.
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