India will try to isolate Pakistan further during the eighth BRICS Summit in Goa while also aiming to ink a multi-billion defence deal with Russia

New Delhi: India will try to isolate Pakistan further during the eighth BRICS Summit in Goa while also aiming to ink a multi-billion defence deal with Russia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to arrive in Goa today for the BRICS Summit and the first ever BRICS-BIMSTEC meet during which Indian is set to ink a multi-billion air defence missile system with Russia.

“The outreach with BIMSTEC leaders is significant. We hope to tap the huge potential for cooperation and the dividends this will bring,” Modi tweeted.

The two-day BRICS summit will be held from October 15 to 16.

“India is honoured to welcome President Putin for the India-Russia Annual Summit, which will also take place in Goa,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Modi said that he looked forward to useful conversations with leaders from China, South Africa, Brazil and Russia on key global and regional challenges.

“As BRICS chair this year, India embraces a stronger emphasis on enhancing economic and people-to-people ties. This will benefit us greatly,” he said.

Both Putin and Modi will stay at the Taj Exotica while the other heads of state will be put up in other hotels.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an inter-governmental organisation of which Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are members.

“I am happy that India is facilitating an outreach Summit with BIMSTEC leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand,” Modi said in another tweet.

According to the reports, a joint meeting of the BRICS and BIMSTEC leaders will be held on October 16.

India is also counting on the BIMSTEC in a bid to corner Pakistan after 19th SAARC summit which were scheduled in Islamabad were cancelled.

Russia and India will sign a multi-billion dollar deal for S-400 ‘Triumf’ long-range air defence missile systems on Saturday following talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Goa, according to media reports.

“Following the results of the negotiations between our president and (Indian Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, an agreement will be signed on the delivery of S-400 Triumf anti aircraft missile systems to India, as well as some other documents,” Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying by TASS news agency on Thursday.

India is interested in getting five systems of the most modern air defence system, capable of firing three types of missiles, creating a layered defence, and simultaneously engaging 36 targets.

It has the capability to destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km.

If India signs the deal, it would be the second customer of the prized missile system after China which had struck a USD 3 billion contract last year.

The S-400, an upgraded version of the S-300, had previously only been available to the Russian defence forces.

It is manufactured by Almaz-Antey and has been in service in Russia since 2007.

Ushakov said part of the documents will be signed behind closed doors.

The Kremlin aide declined to comment on the details of the deal, suggesting that first the document should be signed.

Russia also plans to sign an agreement on building Project 11356 frigates for the Indian Navy and setting up a Russian- Indian joint venture to produce Kamov Ka-226T helicopters, the agency reported.

Following the results of their talks, Putin and Modi will adopt a joint statement to reflect their common approaches towards solving various global and regional issues.

Both sides will also approve a roadmap of measures timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Overall, Russia and India are set to sign about 18 documents, he said.

Bureau Report