By Sarwar Kashani
Moscow, Dec 7 (IANS) Russia Monday backed India’s concerns over terrorism, and said the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror strike, which New Delhi has blamed on elements in Pakistan, should be brought to justice.

Russia also condemned the terrorist attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul in October.

In a joint statement signed after summit level talks between visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Dmitry Medvedev, the two sides emphasised “that the resurgence of the Al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan threatens the progress made over the last few years”.

“In this regard, they (India and Russia) condemn the terrorist attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul on Oct 8, 2009,” according to the joint declaration.

“Russia expressed solidarity and support to the government and people of India in connection with terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26-29, 2008 and both sides underscore the need to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice,” read the joint statement, which was delayed for the media release.

The terror carnage in Mumbai last year, which claimed the lives of 166 people, was perpetrated by 10 terrorists who sailed from Karachi to the financial capital of India.

The joint statement was issued hours after Manmohan Singh and Medvedev held talks and the two sides inked a host of bilateral agreements including a broad based peaceful use of atomic energy.

India on its part supported Russia’s efforts “to maintain peace and stability in the Caucasus” and expressed sympathy for the victims of the attack of the Nevsky Express by terrorists Nov 27, 2009 in Russia.

Cautioning against attempts to draw a line between “good” and “bad” Taliban, the two sides agreed that the fight against terrorism “cannot be selective”.

“The sides intend to further develop India-Russian bilateral cooperation in combating new challenges and threats, including such cooperation within the framework of the India and Russia Working Group on Combating International Terrorism,” said the statement.

Medevedev, at a joint news conference with Manmohan Singh, said Russia was interested in strict control over nuclear weapons “so that they aren’t taken hostage by any kind of radicals; so that they won’t be used to start any kind of conflict or even threaten neighbours.”

Without naming Pakistan, the Russian president said utmost care should be taken that nuclear assets do not fall into the hands of terrorists and extremists.

“This touches on all countries. This touches, of course, upon the Iranian nuclear programme and other states,” Medvedev said. The remarks come amid reports of a threat of extremist and terror elements taking control of atomic assets in that country.

Following discussions on regional and global issues at the one-on-one and the delegation level talks, Manmohan Singh said India and Russia have agreed to enhance their cooperation to meet the grave “challenges of terrorism and religious extremism that emanate from our region and threaten both our societies”.

“Both India and Russia have an interest in a stable, prosperous and moderate Afghanistan, and we have agreed to regularly consult each other on the important issue,” he said.