India, Russia agree to counter terrorism after Taliban emergence

New Delhi: Amid the developments in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, the Indian government is said to have been engaging in diplomatic talks with the key countries that have stakes in Afghanistan to reduce Pakistan's role in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Russia's President Vladimir Putin on the situation in Afghanistan. The leaders have reportedly agreed to extend their cooperation to improve the humanitarian situation in the country.

The Russian statement on the PM Modi and Putin talks said that both the leaders agreed to enhance their engagement on countering the dissemination of the terrorist ideology and the drug threat emanating from the territory of Afghanistan.

The statement also underlined the importance of coordinated efforts to establish normalcy and stability in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India and Russia have agreed for a joined monitoring of the development in Afghanistan, considering the implications of the infolding situation for the region and the world.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who chaired a meeting of the NSAs of the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) countries, has reportedly expressed apprehensions of increasing cross-border terrorism and activities of groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The meeting also adopted and recommended the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan for consideration by the BRICS Summit.