Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister General Sergey Shoigu signed multiple defence agreements between India and Russia at the '2+2' dialogue in Delhi. According to news agency ANI, the two countries signed a contract for procurement of 6,01,427 7.63x39mm assault rifles AK-203 from 2021-2031, and a protocol for amending agreement on cooperation in the field of Kalashnikov series small arms manufacturing. Rajnath Singh had held talks with Shoigu and discussed ways to further boost strategic cooperation including expansion of joint production of military equipment.
Shoigu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had arrived on Sunday night to hold the inaugural 2+2 dialogue with their Indian counterparts. After the talks, the two Russian ministers will join President Vladimir Putin in his summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India and Russia are set to ink a number of pacts to expand cooperation in key areas of defence, trade and investment, energy and technology at the summit. In the summit as well as in the 2+2 talks, the two sides are also expected to focus on the situation in Afghanistan.
Ahead of the summit, India cleared the long-pending AK 203 Kalashnikov rifles deal worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore for production of over five lakh such rifles at Korwa in Amethi by an Indo-Russian joint venture.
-Inputs from PTI
