RUSSIA’S POSITION ON THE KASHMIR ISSUE DURING VLADIMIR PUTIN’S FIRST PRESIDENTIAL TERM (2000 - 2004)

Abstract

India-Russia relations are inherited on the basis of India's “special” strategic relationship with the Soviet Union - the relationship of a “non-aligned” country with a leading power system of socialism. In the early years of the 21st century, during the first term of President Vladimir Putin (2000 - 2004), this relationship was still strengthened and converged on the basis of overlapping strategic interests. The clearest proof of this is Russia's stance on the dispute between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. So, what is Russia's position on the Kashmir issue? What are the differences compared to the Soviet period? In this article, based on historical and logical methods, the author will clarify Russia's main approach to the Kashmir issue. Research results show that Russia has expressed consistent, similar and supportive views of India's stance. However, in the face of geo-political fluctuations in South Asia, Russia's perspective is also more pragmatic. The results of this research are meaningful in clarifying the thinking of national interests of major countries in a changing world order.