NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin directed his fabled charms on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, selling India a package of arms that should worry Pakistan, and a gas pipeline dream that should excite it.

“An old friend is better than two new ones,” said Mr Modi, quoting from a Russian saying, while receiving Mr Putin in Goa for a two-day BRICS summit in the heavily guarded coastal state.

With a dramatic increase in US-Russian sabre-rattling over Syria, Mr Putin’s well-timed warmth with Mr Modi and Russia’s first military exercise recently with Pakistan is bound to intrigue the West.

Chinese President Xi Jinpeng’s presence will add interest for the world, Pakistan in particular, which has been deliberately kept out of the BRICS outreach meeting to which Mr Modi has invited other South Asian countries.

Indian leader discusses NSG issue with Chinese president

Reports said Mr Xi is unlikely to endorse any reference to terrorism in the BRICS draft that implicates Pakistan.

In a meeting between Mr Modi and President Xi subsequently, the two issues of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership and the naming of Masood Azhar as a terrorist came up.

“The Chinese side is very well aware of our concerns, need for us to ensure that globally notified terrorists are designated by the UN,” Indian foreign ministry spok­esman Vikas Swarup said.

“We are maintaining dialogue with China on pushing for UN ban on JeM terrorist Masood Azhar. We expect that China will see the logic in it.”

(The spokesman said there was no resolution on China’s decision to block India’s entry to the NSG, according to AFP.)

The India-Russia defence deals inc­lude purchase of missile systems, frigates and joint production of helicopters.

Amongst the major deals signed one is the S-400 air defence system worth $5 billion. The two countries also inaugurated units 3 and 4 of the Kudankulam nuclear plant.

“The highly productive outcomes of our meeting clearly establish the special and privileged nature of our strategic partnership,” Mr Modi said at a joint appearance with Mr Putin. “They also lay the foundations for deeper defence and economic ties in years ahead.”

Mr Modi said the agreements on manufacturing of Kamov 226T helicopters; construction of frigates; and acquisition and building of other defence platforms were in synergy with India’s technology and security priorities. “We have also agreed to work on an annual military industrial conference that will allow stakeholders on both sides to institute and push collaboration,” he said.

“Last year in Moscow, I had said that we would be enlarging our presence in Russia’s hydrocarbon sector,” Mr Modi recalled.

“In last four months, in a clear expression of our strong and deep enga­gement in the hydrocarbon sector, Indian companies have invested close to $5.5bn in Russia’s oil and gas sector.

“And, with President Putin’s support, we are ready and willing to expand the scope of our engagement further. We are also undertaking a joint study of a gas pipeline route between our two countries.”

While Mr Modi will be pleased with his Russian gifts, the sideshow in Goa is primed to look past India’s quest to sail out into the Pacific Ocean.

Indian commentators have noted that Mr Xi and Mr Putin will have more than vodka shots and gifts of ice cream to show for their warming relationship when they meet here.

“Recent months have seen greater security cooperation between Russia and China as they find common ground against the US,” one commentary said.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2016