Article Posted on : - Oct 16, 2009

Union Defence Minister A K Antony at a soldier's memorial at Alexenrensky Garden in Moscow on Wednesday. Image Credit: PTI

MOSCOW (PTI): India has said it will work with "time-tested friend" Russia in 31 new areas under a 10-year military agreement to be sealed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit here this year end, when an after-sales support deal for Russian defence equipment will also be inked.

"Russia is a time-tested, dependable friend of India. Our special defence relationship with Russia will continue. The extension of our long-term defence cooperation programme till 2020 would include 31 new areas," Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters Thursday, wrapping up his three-day visit here, but declined to name the sectors.

Antony, who co-chaired the ninth session of the Inter-governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation with his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov, said military cooperation with other countries "will not be at the cost of Russia."

On the Gorshkov aircraft carrier pricing negotiations, an irritant in defence relations for long, he said the talks would continue next month when a Russian team visits India.

Among other issues the two sides agreed upon this time through a protocol included joint development of a fifth generation fighter jet, heavy lift helicopter, multi-role cargo aircraft, hypersonic BRAHMOS-II missile, and future combat vehicle, apart from assurances from Moscow on leasing out Akula-II nuclear submarine.

They will also collaborate in upgrading IAF's air superiority Sukhoi fighter jets, older MiG-27 fighter, and the T-72 battle tanks, apart from producing T-90S tanks in India under technology transfer.

On his behalf, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said, "some extra measures," had been taken to eliminate problems, in an apparent reference Gorshkov and Akula-II delivery delays.

"Our cooperation has confidently moved from buyer-seller relationship to joint research, development and production of hi-tech weapon systems and platforms," he said.

Asked about the Sino-Indian spat over Arunachal Pradesh and Beijing's investments in Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) this week, Antony said Indian military had "adequate" infrastructure and capability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, though it sought to resolve border disputes through talks.

"By and large border with China is peaceful, except for occasional problems. They (Chinese) are strengthening the infrastructure and capabilities on their side of the border.

We have adopted a two-fold policy: seek a border solution through political and diplomatic dialogue, and build adequate capabilities and infrastructure on our side of the border," he added.

On terrorism and militants infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir, Antony said Pakistan failed to meet its commitment to root out anti-India terror groups operating from its soil.

"There are attacks along the LoC and more attempts of infiltration in to Jammu and Kashmir, but our armed forces are defeating them. Terror camps are still intact in PoK. Pakistan is not making efforts to root them out and meeting its commitments to root out anti-India terror from its soil," he added.