Putin signs pact for 12 nuclear plants in India

In a major boost to India-Russian relations, 19 agreements were signed on Friday, including three in civil nuclear field and one for purchase of 29 MiG-29 fighters besides inking the revised agreement on Gorshkov aircraft carrier, a deal that was stuck for three years over price.

Under the agreements in civil nuclear field, Russia will build 12 atomic plants - six in Kudankulam and six in Haripur in West Bengal.

The agreements were signed during the day-long visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who held comprehensive talks with his counterpart Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the aim of exploring opportunities for further boosting the relations. They also discussed regional issues, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the context of terrorism and agreed to intensify their consultations on Afghanistan the challenges posed by terrorism and extremism in the region.

The pacts in civil nuclear field are agreement on cooperation in the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes and agreement on road map for the serial construction of Russian designed nuclear power plants. An MoU was also signed on Nuclear Power between NPCIL and Atomstroy Export for construction of third and fourth atomic plant in Kudankulum in Tamil Nadu.

The revised agreement on Gorshkov aircraft carrier deal was also signed during the visit. The deal had initially been signed in 2004 at the cost of $1.5 billion, along with 16 MiG-29Ks.

However, the Russians later demanded $2.9 billion, citing escalation of costs.

After protracted negotiations, the two sides settled at $2.34 billion.

Earlier in the evening, Vladimir Putin met President Pratibha Patil.

Vladimir Putin on Friday expressed concern over terror groups operating from within Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying it was a threat to the entire world. Putin said Russia understood well the concerns of India regarding banned terror outfits operating against it from within Pakistan's soil. He added in equal measure that Islamabad had in the recent months initiated action against those groups.

Participating in a video conference with businessmen from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore, Putin said: "As far as terror groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan are concerned, it is a matter of worry for the entire region and in fact, the whole world."

He said due to the proximity of India and Russia to Afghanistan border, the situation in the troubled Asian country "did impact the security" of both the two countries.

"Parts of Afghanistan's soil continues to be used by terror groups. We understand the concerns of India regarding the activities of banned outfits in Pakistan," he said.

However, "let’s be realistic... Pakistan has taken action against those outfits in the last few months," he added. "We hope addressing the problem (of terror groups) will be in the best interest of Pakistan. We need to support those efforts," he said. Putin said India and Russia were concerned over terror activities and were strategic partners in the fight against terror. "Unlike many other countries, Russia does not have any military cooperation with Pakistan because we bear in mind the concerns of our Indian friends," Putin added.

- Asian Tribune -