<p>Days after the Moscow meet on Afghanistan — in which the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-future-of-afghanistan-will-be-won-through-peace-talks-with-taliban-161009">Taliban</a> participated — Russia has said it would like a higher-level Indian presence at the talks but added that any level of Indian participation is welcomed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking exclusively to WION, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev said, "India is welcomed at any level of its preference. The higher the level, the better, that is what I can say. But any level of Indian participation is welcomed. India is welcomed anytime at anywhere."</p>

<p>India participated at the Moscow meet on Afghanistan at a non-official level by sending former diplomats who have served in the Af-Pak region. Amar Sinha, who was India's envoy to Afghanistan, and TCA Raghavan, who was India's envoy to Pakistan, represented India at the Moscow talks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India's participation at the meet has been called a departure from official New Delhi policy on engagement with the Taliban — India has not engaged with the Taliban with the exception of duing the 1999 hijacking of IC 814.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The MEA however has denied any departure in policy with MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar saying in his weekly press briefing that India will support any effort which is "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled and also with the participation of the government of Afghanistan".</p>

<p>The Moscow meet on Afghanistan, which took place on November 9, saw participation by Afghanistan, Russia, the US, Iran, Pakistan, India, Central Asian countries, and the Taliban. Afghanistan was represented by High Peace Council (a body of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program which was established by Hamid Karzai to negotiate with elements of the Taliban.)&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was the first time the Taliban participated in the meet.</p>

<p>The Russian ambassador also lauded India-Russia ties, saying "they are specially privileged strategic relationship and they will remain to be so". &nbsp;</p>

<p>Kudashev added that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are "not just political partners, not just strategic partners, they are friends".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asked if Modi and Putin will be meeting before the year-end, he said, "I will not be surprised if they meet one another at the earliest."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two leaders have met three times in 2018 — first at the informal Sochi meeting, then in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, and then in Delhi for the annual India-Russia Summit.</p>


Days after the Moscow meet on Afghanistan — in which the Taliban participated — Russia has said it would like a higher-level Indian presence at the talks but added that any level of Indian participation is welcomed.

Days after the Moscow meet on Afghanistan — in which the Taliban participated — Russia has said it would like a higher-level Indian presence at the talks but added that any level of Indian participation is welcomed. Speaking exclusively to WION, Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev said, "India is welcomed at any level of its preference. The higher the level, the better, that is what I can say. But any level of Indian participation is welcomed. India is welcomed anytime at anywhere." India participated at the Moscow meet on Afghanistan at a non-official level by sending former diplomats who have served in the Af-Pak region. Amar Sinha, who was India's envoy to Afghanistan, and TCA Raghavan, who was India's envoy to Pakistan, represented India at the Moscow talks. India's participation at the meet has been called a departure from official New Delhi policy on engagement with the Taliban — India has not engaged with the Taliban with the exception of duing the 1999 hijacking of IC 814. The MEA however has denied any departure in policy with MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar saying in his weekly press briefing that India will support any effort which is "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled and also with the participation of the government of Afghanistan". The Moscow meet on Afghanistan, which took place on November 9, saw participation by Afghanistan, Russia, the US, Iran, Pakistan, India, Central Asian countries, and the Taliban. Afghanistan was represented by High Peace Council (a body of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program which was established by Hamid Karzai to negotiate with elements of the Taliban.) This was the first time the Taliban participated in the meet. The Russian ambassador also lauded India-Russia ties, saying "they are specially privileged strategic relationship and they will remain to be so". Kudashev added that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are "not just political partners, not just strategic partners, they are friends". Asked if Modi and Putin will be meeting before the year-end, he said, "I will not be surprised if they meet one another at the earliest." The two leaders have met three times in 2018 — first at the informal Sochi meeting, then in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, and then in Delhi for the annual India-Russia Summit.

Russia envoy says would like higher-level India participation at Moscow meet on Afghanistan

<p>Kadakin, who started his diplomatic career in 1971, served his first term as Russian envoy to India between 1999 and 2004. He was appointed as ambassador to India for the second time in 2009 and was holding the appointment ever since. He was also the Minister Counselor of Russia to India between 1989 and 1992.</p>

<p>The Russian Embassy said in a statement that Kadakin was &quot;closely associated with promoting India-Russia relations&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;He passed away in a New Delhi hospital after a brief illness,&quot; it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India&#39;s PM Modi condoled his death, calling him an &#39;admirable diplomat, a great friend of India.&#39;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Deeply saddened at the passing away of Ambassador Alexander Kadakin.</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/824510959234547718">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Deeply saddened at the passing away of Ambassador Alexander Kadakin.</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/824510959234547718">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>President Pranab Mukherjee described Kadakin &#39;as a true friend of India.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Deepest condolences on sad demise of Russia&#39;s Ambassador to India, Alexander Kadakin who spent long years here and was true friend of India</p>
&mdash; President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/RashtrapatiBhvn/status/824524768133029888">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his death India has &quot;lost a valued friend who nurtured India-Russia relationship for many decades as a distinguished Russian diplomat&quot;.</p>

<p>A fluent speaker of Hindi, Kadakin amazed many Indians with his good knowledge of Hindi and Indian culture. He was a familiar face at most official and diplomatic events.</p>

<p>Kadakin was reportedly instrumental in playing the balancing act between Moscow and New Delhi after India grew closer to the US. He also helped clear New Delhi&#39;s misconceptions when Russia moved closer to Pakistan.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from agencies)</p>

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Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin died of a heart attack on Thursday morning

Kadakin, who started his diplomatic career in 1971, served his first term as Russian envoy to India between 1999 and 2004. He was appointed as ambassador to India for the second time in 2009 and was holding the appointment ever since. He was also the Minister Counselor of Russia to India between 1989 and 1992. The Russian Embassy said in a statement that Kadakin was "closely associated with promoting India-Russia relations". "He passed away in a New Delhi hospital after a brief illness," it said. India's PM Modi condoled his death, calling him an 'admirable diplomat, a great friend of India.' Deeply saddened at the passing away of Ambassador Alexander Kadakin. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2017 × Deeply saddened at the passing away of Ambassador Alexander Kadakin. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2017 × President Pranab Mukherjee described Kadakin 'as a true friend of India. Deepest condolences on sad demise of Russia's Ambassador to India, Alexander Kadakin who spent long years here and was true friend of India — President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) January 26, 2017 × External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his death India has "lost a valued friend who nurtured India-Russia relationship for many decades as a distinguished Russian diplomat". A fluent speaker of Hindi, Kadakin amazed many Indians with his good knowledge of Hindi and Indian culture. He was a familiar face at most official and diplomatic events. Kadakin was reportedly instrumental in playing the balancing act between Moscow and New Delhi after India grew closer to the US. He also helped clear New Delhi's misconceptions when Russia moved closer to Pakistan. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Russian envoy to India, Alexander Kadakin, dies at 67

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Russia envoy says would like higher-level India participation at Moscow meet on Afghanistan

Russian envoy to India, Alexander Kadakin, dies at 67