Russia is crucial for India in balancing power equations in Asia, noted a source.India is ramping up partnership with Russia across energy, connectivity, and manufacturing sectors besides maintaining robust defence ties. Moscow remains important for India's national security policy and plays a key role in India's strategic thinking.India is acting in tandem with Russia in Gulf, Iran and Afghanistan and on Friday the two sides will hold consultations in Delhi on Asia-Pacific. "India is vital for Russia's Asia-Pacific Policy. After all, Moscow does not want to box itself by expanding ties only with China.Sino-Russian ties will not grow at the cost of Indo-Russian ties. Delhi still makes first phone call to Moscow when it comes to security emergency," noted an expert on Indo-Russian affairs.

Source: Economic Times September 15, 2016 19:30 UTC