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Indian <keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="prime-minister-Narendra-Modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword> met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa, on the sidelines of the <keyword id="157954" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shanghai-Cooperation-Organisation">Shanghai Cooperation Organisation</keyword> (SCO) Summit.<br />
The two premiers shook hands before sitting down for delegation-level talks.<br />
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Reportedly, Indian delegation included National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar while Sartaj Aziz, Sharif's advisor on foreign affairs and national security, was in the Pakistani delegation.<br />
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The previous night, Modi and Sharif had exchanged pleasantries and chatted briefly at the dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for leaders of five BRICS nations and 10 SCO nations in Ufa.<br />
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It is expected that Modi and Sharif will discuss the status of the bilateral ties and the future direction.<br />
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However, Indian government sources told Economic Times that Modi-Sharif talks need not be construed a prelude to a resumption of the dialogue process between the two countries.<br />
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Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said that it has always been (Pakistan) Prime Minister's policy to seek cordial and cooperative ties with all neighbouring countries including India. “It was in the pursuit of this objective that the prime minister would be meeting the Indian prime minister for a comprehensive exchange on all issues of common interest,” he had said.<br />
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Meanwhile, sources indicated ET that Modi will strongly raise India's concerns on militancy with Pakistan and that all outstanding issues including inaction against Hafiz Saeed and 26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.<br />
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Modi and Sharif had met in Kathmandu last year for the SAARC Summit but they did not have a bilateral meeting over acrimony between the two countries at that time.<br />

Modi, Sharif meet, chit-chat on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Ufa

In a bid to improve the strategic, economic and energy ties with the central Asian countries and <keyword id="6358826" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Russia">Russia</keyword>, Indian Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> started his 8-day visit today.<br />
 <br /> As per an The Economic Times report, the PM, who will attend the BRICS and <keyword id="170281" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shanghai-Cooperation-Organization">Shanghai Cooperation Organization</keyword> (SCO) summits, will also visit the five central Asian countries.<br />
 <br /> Starting from <keyword id="108488" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uzbekistan">Uzbekistan</keyword> today, the Prime Minister will reach <keyword id="6380984" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kazakhstan">Kazakhstan</keyword> tomorrow. After which he will travel to Russia on July 8, <keyword id="113695" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</keyword> on July 10, <keyword id="47109" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kyrgyzstan">Kyrgyzstan</keyword> on July 11 and <keyword id="169344" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tajikistan">Tajikistan</keyword> on July 12.<br />
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India is looking forward to securing a membership status of the six-nation group comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in Russia’s Ufa. India, however, holds an observer status as of now.<br />
 <br /> On the other hand, the <keyword id="617785" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="BRICS-summit">BRICS summit</keyword>, world’s one of the most important economic summits will focus on increasing co-operation in economic field, which even includes the possibility of trade in local currency.<br />
 <br /> Apart from that, the summit might also look forward to the possibility of starting the credit facility in local currency as the <keyword id="989905" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BRICS-Development-Bank">BRICS Development Bank</keyword> has already been set up. Noted Indian banker K V Kamath has been named as the first head of the bank.<br />
 <br /> As per a statement issued by the <keyword id="392303" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-External-Affair">Ministry of External Affair</keyword>, “During the visit to five central Asian nations, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to all of them together, the focus will be on enhancing trade, which is ‘not impressive’, and cooperation in energy and security.”<br />
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Efforts to push the Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project have also been included in the program. The project, reportedly, is a crucial one for India's energy needs as it will carry gas from central Asia. However, it has also been hampered because of lack of physical connectivity. <br />
<em>Image: indiatimes</em><br />
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First ever Indian PM to visit central Asian countries to boost economic and energy ties

<p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin</span></p><p class="caption">Russia's President Vladimir Putin reacts at a news conference after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Ufa, Russia, July 10, 2015.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span>Russia lost its appeal against its Olympics ban.</p><p>The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) issued its final decision in the dispute between Russia and the governing body of world athletics, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), over the athletes' participation in the Rio Olympic Games.</p><p>CAS's secretary-general Matthieu Reeb announced the decision on Thursday morning that 68 Russian track and field athletes won't be able to compete in this year's Olympic games in Rio, Brazil.</p><p>The IAAF had banned the athletes in November 2015 from competing after repeated allegations of doping and state-sponsored cover-ups.</p><p>The head coach of the Russian synchronized swimming team, Tatyana Pokrovskaya, told Reuters she is concerned the ban might be extended to other sportspeople: </p><p>"Of course, we are anxious, and as the Games approach we feel more and more anxious. We have no doubt that we should take part in the Olympics, because doping is an irrelevant word for us, we only hear it at a distance. That's why everyone who is clean from doping should go and take part in the Olympics. All sportspeople without exception and we hope for it," Pokrovskaya said. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/laurie-hernandez-is-about-to-tear-up-the-olympics-at-age-16-2016-7">This gymnastics phenom is about to tear up the Olympics at age 16</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="5waXhvNDE6yJ-8r2wDxcHcivAEEX-Nmt" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

68 Russian track and field athletes won't be able to compete in the Rio Olympics

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div>While Ukraine is the central point of conflict between Russia and NATO, economics may be the next battlefront.</p><p>According to <span>Robert Dannenberg, a Goldman Sachs security analyst and CIA veteran, Russia's President Vladimir Putin recognizes the importance of gaining power through international economic agencies. </span></p><p><span>"Putin is conservative and nostalgic, but he also understands that it takes more than just rebuilding or modernizing your nuclear arsenal to create a bi-polar world. You need to have economic power," Dannenberg said during a Q&amp;A in a Goldman note.</span></p><p>Russia seems far from realizing these goals. Lowered oil prices and economic sanctions by NATO due to the Ukraine conflict have crippled the Russian economy in the past few years.</p><p>The country's bonds have been <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/moodys-cuts-russia-to-junk-2015-2">downgraded to junk status</a>, and its <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-russian-q1-economic-contraction-less-than-feared-at-1.9-2015-5">GDP contracted 1.9%</a> in the first quarter of 2015. It does not seem that Russia is ready to flex its economic muscle. </p><p><span><span>In spite of the weak economy, Russia is attempting to boost its fortune by allying with more friendly economic powers, particularly China, and burgeoning markets.</span></span></p><p><span>According to Dannenberg, Putin's plan is twofold. The first objective is to create closer formal ties with countries that have similar economic interests. </span></p><p><span>Last week Russia hosted the BRICS summit, a meeting of economic and political leaders from the growing powers of Brazil, India, China and South Africa. Russia is also a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which has 14 members including China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey.</span></p><p>They've even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/greece-is-flirting-with-russia-to-make-europe-jealous-2015-7">begun to court Greece</a> as an economic partner in Europe.</p><p><span>Obviously based on those membership lists, Russia's main focus is maintaining strong ties with China. Dannenberg highlighted this the most important part of Putin's economic plan. </span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span>"Putin knows that Russia's relative economic weakness means there is no possibility of achieving his vision without China's participation," said Dannenberg.</span></p><p>He noted that Putin is willing to make serious concessions to achieve the goal.</p><p>"It is why he agreed to a natural gas deal with China in the spring of 2014 despite very disadvantageous terms for Russia," he said.</p><p>In November, Russia and China struck a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-signs-gas-supply-deal-with-china-2014-11">deal to create pipelines</a> from Siberia into China and transport up to 38 billion cubic meters of gas a year and in April, Russia <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-learning-mandarin-in-the-tundra---russia-invites-china-into-oil-business-2015-4">sold a stake</a> in its Vankor oil fields to the Chinese in an unprecedented move.</p><p><span>Russia plans take aim at international economic institutions Putin believes are controlled by NATO nations. Here's Dannenberg:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">This notion has already been picked up by the Chinese, who in recent months have made a push for the yuan's inclusion in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-china-knocking-on-door-of-imfs-major-league-us-wavers-2015-4">IMF's Special Drawing Rights</a> as a reserve currency or even pushing to use the SDR as the base for all investment instead of the US dollar.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>By connecting with China and other markets, Putin is expanding his conflict with the West from the streets of Ukraine to the economic markets of the world.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazing-facts-about-vladimir-putin-russia-president-2015-3">11 amazing facts about Vladimir Putin </a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="k4NTY1dDqFCsBpfiPjzGEUMzJURbWO-R" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Putin knows his military muscle isn't much without economic muscle

Ever since <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Narendra+Modi">Narendra Modi</a> took oath as India’s Prime Minister, one area which took most of his attention was international relationships. After visiting multiple countries now, it’s <keyword id="41896" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Iran">Iran</keyword> who is hopeful. Iran hopes that the Indian PM will visit Tehran to draw up a joint strategy over geo-political challenges and set up joint ventures worth billions of dollars in the petrochemicals, fertiliser and surface transport sectors.<br />
 <br /> As per the media reports, Iranian Ambassador <keyword id="2017413" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gholam-Reza-Ansari">Gholam Reza Ansari</keyword> has already sent an invite to PM Modi. "We hope that it materializes soon to give the required impetus to bilateral ties and to firm up a strategic partnership," Ansari said, adding that Modi and Iranian President <keyword id="1753604" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hasan-Rouhani">Hasan Rouhani</keyword> had a "useful meeting" in the Russian city of Ufa on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.<br />
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Praising India’s efforts for extending help to Iran during the sanctions regime, which is now coming to an end with an agreement on Tehran's nuclear program, Ansari said, “It has brought us together. India opened a credit line which helped in easing economic pressure on the regime," adding that India's dues of $8 billion can be utilized for setting up major developmental projects in Iran.<br />
<br /> "A great potential of cooperation exists between India and Iran. Iran offers access to India through the Chahbahar and Bandar Abbas ports and through the north-south corridor to Central Asia, Afghanistan, <keyword id="6358826" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Russia">Russia</keyword>, the Caucasus region and even Turkey,” he added.<br />
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The envoy also said that India and Iran shared similar views on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>.<br />
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Talking about the<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/There-are-parts-of-the-Iran-nuclear-agreement-so-secret-that-not-even-John-Kerry-has-seen-them-yet/articleshow/48273905.cms"> nuclear deal</a>, which has been signed by Iran with six big powers, the ambassador said that Iran always stated that its program was for peaceful and civilian purposes.<br />
 <br /> Ansari also claimed Iran has always opposed military solutions and that Oman and Quatar has endorsed the deal while <keyword id="50996" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saudi-Arabia">Saudi Arabia</keyword> still has some reservations. The envoy assured that every effort would be made to engage with the kingdom and remove its misgivings.<br />
 <br /> "The nuclear accord is a great historic development. This development has taken place when the regional political and security situation has worsened. Afghanistan, <keyword id="6354913" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Syria">Syria</keyword>, Yemen and Libya are in turmoil. It has been proved that military means have offered no solution to the crisis in the Middle east and other regions. The need of the hour is to face the threat of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ISIS+">ISIS </a>(Islamic State), which is erasing borders and trying to create a Calaphite regime. We need strong determination as well as cooperation to eliminate this menace," the envoy said.<br />
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On Syria, he said that Russia and the United States, along with Iran, are drawing up a new plan to end civil war in the country. "One-third of the Syrian population has fled to neighboring nations. It is time to solve this issue realistically," he said, adding: "The new plan is likely to be placed before the UN very shortly."<br />
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<em>Image: indiatimes </em><br />

Iran invites Indian PM Modi to enhance strategic partnership

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin</span></p><p class="caption">Russia's President Vladimir Putin reacts at a news conference after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Ufa, Russia, July 10, 2015.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Reports that Russia is ramping up its military involvement in Syria have US officials concerned and outright skeptical over <span>Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions.</span></p><p><span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-is-upping-military-intervention-in-syria-2015-9">Putin has</a> said that Russia <span>wants to "</span></span>create some kind of an international coalition to fight terrorism and extremism."</p><p>T<span>he Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that Russian <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/syrian-army-official-we-are-seeing-a-lot-more-russian-military-experts-these-days-2015-9">military advisors are in Syria</a> - but insisted it was just to advise</span><span> the regime in its "fight against extremists."</span></p><p><span><span>The US State Department isn't buying it.</span></span></p><p><span><span></span></span><span>"Russia is not a member of the coalition against ISIL, and what we've said is that their continued support to the Assad regime has actually fostered the growth of ISIL inside Syria and made the situation worse," State Department spokesman John Kirby <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/world/europe/us-moves-to-block-russian-military-buildup-in-syria.html?smid=tw-share&amp;_r=0">said</a> on Wednesday, using an acronym for the Islamic State (aka ISIS and Daesh). </span></p><p><span>"If they want to be helpful against ISIL, the way to do it is to stop arming and assisting and supporting Bashar al-Assad."</span></p><p><span><span>Russian drones and fighter planes are </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-is-upping-military-intervention-in-syria-2015-9">surveilling non-ISIS rebels</a><span> in the country's north - Assad considers all rebels "terrorists" or "extremists" - and <span>Russian armored personnel carriers </span><a href="https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2015/09/07/are-there-russian-troops-fighting-in-syria/">with Russian-speaking troops</a><span> were involved in fighting.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span>Russia has also set up an air-traffic-control tower and brought housing units for up to 1,000 personnel to Latakia in the country's west, and Reuters <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/09/us-mideast-crisis-syria-usa-idUSKCN0R91TA20150909?utm_source=twitter">reports</a> that two tank landing ships and additional aircraft have arrived.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>IUCA/Amanda Macias/Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>The news comes as al Qaeda-linked rebels took full control of the Idlib province, which borders Latakia and is just the second province no longer under government control (along with ISIS-controlled Raqqa).</span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span>"Assad has lost significant territory over the past months; Putin is not about to tolerate his ouster," geopolitical expert </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ianbremmer?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank">Ian Bremmer</a><span>, the president of Eurasia Group, told Business Insider in an email.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="p-block"><span>Over the course of the 55-month Syrian conflict, Russia has provided the Assad regime with supplies - including </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/all-sides-hedging-bets-on-flow-of-arms-to-syria/2013/05/29/6464af26-c7bf-11e2-8da7-d274bc611a47_story.html">guns,</a> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/all-sides-hedging-bets-on-flow-of-arms-to-syria/2013/05/29/6464af26-c7bf-11e2-8da7-d274bc611a47_story.html">grenades,</a><span> </span><a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/finland-busts-tank-parts-shipment-to-syria/">tank parts</a><span>, </span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57587007/russia-to-sell-mig-jet-fighters-to-syria-jet-maker-says/?utm_source=feedly">fighter jets</a><span>, </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-is-stilling-supporting-assad-2013-5">advanced anti-ship cruise missiles</a><span>, </span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/bashar-al-assad-says-syria-has-received-missiles-from-russia/2013/05/30/01c6ba04-c930-11e2-8da7-d274bc611a47_story.html">long-range air-defense missiles</a><span>, </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-general-killed-by-syrian-rebels-2012-10">military officers as advisers</a><span>, </span><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/51940996/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/russia-assad-foes-must-come-syria-meeting-without-conditions/">diplomatic cover</a><span>, and </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-is-printing-money-for-syria-to-pay-government-expenses-2012-6">lots</a><span> of </span><a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/flight-records-list-russia-sending-tons-of-cash-to-syria">cash</a><span>.</span></p><p class="p-block"><span>The US is moving to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/world/europe/us-moves-to-block-russian-military-buildup-in-syria.html?smid=tw-share">block</a> the latest buildup by asking countries such as Greece and Bulgaria to <span>shut their airspace to Russian transport planes. Over the weekend, a <span>Russian plane reportedly landed at the same airfield in Latakia, flying over Greece and Bulgaria to transport Russian troops to Syria.</span></span></span></p><p class="p-block">Though Bulgaria has complied, Greek officials say they are still looking into the request.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Institute for United Conflict Analysts</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Unconfirmed sightings of Russian infantry vehicles and military advisers in Syria has prompted further rumors that Putin has already put boots on the ground and may be preparing a large-scale counterterrorism operation alongside Iranian proxy militias.</p><p>The operation has less to do with fighting ISIS and more to do with countering Western actions that have bolstered rebel forces in the north and threaten to weaken Assad further. </p><p>"If the West succeeds in turning the tide of the war while Assad is vulnerable, the political outcomes in Syria are more likely to be dictated by the US," Bremmer said. "Which means Putin needs to bolster Assad now."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>screenshot</span></p><p class="caption">A screenshot from a video showing a Russian armored personnel carrier taking part in fighting.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Kirby reiterated that Russia's actions have not been helpful.</p><p><span>"The most productive thing that they can do, if they are serious about getting after extremist networks in Syria, is to stop arming and abetting and aiding Bashar al-Assad, the same man who has by his own brutality and violence on his own people allowed ISIL to grow and to spread inside his own country," he said.</span></p><p><span>For years, Assad has argued that he is fighting terrorism - when, in fact, the US and others have accused him of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/assads-plan-to-work-with-the-west-2014-8">facilitating the rise</a> of ISIS.</span></p><p>"The [Assad] regime is a terrorism generator of epic proportion, engaging in state terrorism against its own people and inciting terrorism from its opponents," a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/assad-is-the-best-isis-recruiting-tool-2015-8#ixzz3lGByYFXt">recent Soufan Group note reported</a>.</p><p>"There is no justifying the actions of a group like the Islamic State or al-Nusra ... but the Assad regime's wholesale slaughter of civilians provides the groups with radicalized supporters far faster than Assad's military can then fight them."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/aerial-video-explosion-blast-site-tianjin-china-2015-8">New aerial footage shows aftermath of explosion in China</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="tkdzUxdzqidr5j3bDhTKNZS1v2q3Z4nZ" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

You Searched For "SCO Summit in Ufa" and got 6 results

Modi, Sharif meet, chit-chat on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Ufa

BI India Bureau

First ever Indian PM to visit central Asian countries to boost economic and energy ties

BI India Bureau

68 Russian track and field athletes won't be able to compete in the Rio Olympics

Barbara Tasch

Putin knows his military muscle isn't much without economic muscle

Bob Bryan

Iran invites Indian PM Modi to enhance strategic partnership

BI India Bureau

The US just called out Russia over those 'military experts' seen in Syria

Natasha Bertrand,Michael B Ke…

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