Russian President Vladimir Putin and PM Narendra Modi at the 'Zvezda' shipbuilding plant in Russia's Vladivost... Read More

NEW DELHI: India and Russia on Wednesday affirmed their stand against the role of "outside influences" in the internal matters of any nation, a statement seen in the context of the changes in Jammu & Kashmir and the developing scenario in Afghanistan.

"We both are against outside influence in the internal matters of any nation," PM Narendra Modi said after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok . A joint statement said the two sides "underlined the primacy of international law and stressed their commitment to the purposes and principles stated in the UN Charter , including the inadmissibility of interference in the internal affairs of member states".

As India engages in a major diplomatic outreach after the decision to do away with J&K's special status and create two UTs of J&K and Ladakh, Modi invoked his "personal bond" with Putin, recalling he had first met the leader in 2003 when he visited Russia as part of then PM Atal Bihar Vajpayee's entourage. "He (Putin) did not treat me as an insignificant member," Modi, who was Gujarat chief minister then, said.



In Video: President Vladimir Putin is a great friend of mine: PM Narendra Modi