Moscow, Oct 03: Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his anticipation for his upcoming visit to India in early December and has ordered the government to devise measures to soften the trade imbalance with India due to the heavy import of crude by New Delhi.

Speaking at the international Valdai discussion forum of security and geopolitical experts from 140 countries, including India, in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in South Russia on Thursday evening, Putin underlined that Russia and India have never had any problems or tensions between them and always took actions by keeping in view their sensitivities.

“We have never had any problems or interstate tensions with India. Never,” the Russian leader noted.

Putin highlighted the “special” nature of Russia-India relations since the days of the Soviet Union, when India was fighting for its independence. “In India, they remember this, they know it, and they value it. We appreciate that India has not forgotten it,” he declared.

He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his friend, noting that he feels comfortable in their trustworthy interactions.

Putin lauded India’s nationalist government led by Modi, calling him a “balanced, wise”, and “nationally oriented” leader.

He remarked, “Everyone in India knows this well,” particularly regarding India’s decision to ignore US pressure to halt oil imports from Russia.

“The losses faced by India due to punitive US tariffs would be balanced by crude imports from Russia, plus it will gain prestige as a sovereign nation,” Putin said.

He said that to remove the trade imbalance, Russia may buy more agricultural products and medicines from India. “More agricultural products may be purchased from India. Certain steps can be undertaken from our side for medicinal products, pharmaceuticals,” Putin stated.

He noted the vast potential for economic cooperation between Russia and India but acknowledged the need to resolve specific issues to fully unlock these opportunities.

“We need to solve the whole range of tasks to unlock our opportunities and potential advantages,” Putin said, identifying financing, logistics and payment bottlenecks as key concerns.

Putin also recalled that the declaration of a special strategic privileged partnership between Russia and India will soon celebrate its 15th anniversary, declaring, “That’s what it really is.”

He noted that, in their political relations, Russia and India almost always coordinate their actions.

“We always hear and take into account the positions of our countries on various key issues. Our foreign ministries work very closely together,” Putin said.

Additionally, he welcomed the idea of a joint fund to develop AI and other cutting-edge technology proposed by Dr Arvind Gupta, Director General of New Delhi-based Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), who was attending the Sochi forum.

New Delhi, Oct 03: More troops poured into the streets of Muzaffarabad and the surroundings of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) on Friday morning to prevent further unrest after days of violent anti-government protests continued.

AFP and AP news agencies reported that the demonstrations, led by the joint Awami Action Committee (AAC), began on Monday over soaring electricity prices, lack of healthcare, and lavish perks enjoyed by ruling politicians. The protests quickly escalated into violent clashes with security forces, leaving nine people dead — six civilians and three policemen — according to a government statement cited by AFP. More than 170 police officers and at least 50 civilians were injured, though protest organisers claim over 100 civilian casualties.

An internet and mobile phone blackout has been imposed across the mountainous region, with local media warned not to cover the unrest. AFP reporters described scenes of devastation in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, with streets “stained with blood and littered with spent bullet casings, shards of glass and scattered stones.”

Security forces have responded with tear gas and heavy deployment in the city. At the height of the protests, thousands of locals joined marches, chanting anti-government slogans and torching government buildings. Markets and schools remained shut, while protesters accused police of firing directly at demonstrators and harassing journalists. Funerals and sporadic fresh demonstrations continued into Thursday despite the crackdown.

The protests are among the largest in recent years in PoK. The unrest has been spearheaded by the Awami Joint Action Committee (AJAC), a coalition of local groups that has enforced road blockades and a shutdown since Monday, AP reported. The alliance has drawn comparisons to movements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, where civil rights activists have rallied against Islamabad’s dominance. As Friday afternoon prayers approached, security forces increased their vigil and patrols across POK to deter fresh rallies.

Islamabad, Oct 2: At least three police personnel were killed and dozens injured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as the region witnessed a strike for the second consecutive day, according to media reports on Wednesday.

The strike, called by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) over the issue of its unfulfilled charter of demands, saw simultaneous protests by rival groups, which accused each other of fomenting violence during an otherwise peaceful demonstration.

Geo News reported that the federal government once again offered negotiations to the JKJAAC amid ongoing protests, which claimed the lives of three police personnel and injured over 100. It was not clear if all the injured were police personnel or also included some civilians.

Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told reporters on Wednesday that “90 per cent of the committee’s demands have already been accepted… federal ministers stand as guarantors to ensure implementation of these demands.”

The channel reported that shops, hotels, and commercial centres across Muzaffarabad remained closed, while public transport disappeared from the roads. Although schools were officially open, classrooms were largely empty as students stayed home.

The JKPAAC has issued a 38-point charter of demands, including ending 12 reserved seats for refugees and rolling back “privileges of the elite”, The News reported.

Addressing a press conference along with PoK “Prime Minister” Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, Fazal explained that two demands, including abolishing seats reserved for refugees in the Legislative Assembly and reducing the number of ministers, required constitutional amendments.

The minister emphasised that the government was still willing to negotiate openly on these two points.

Chaudhry slammed the action committee for taking the protest into a dead end, warning that protests would not deliver results nor provide a solution.

“We do not want violence…, nor do we want our enemy to benefit from it,” Chaudhry said, as he urged the action committee members to sit down for dialogue.

He revealed that 12 hours of negotiations had already taken place, resulting in a written agreement. Action committee members, he said, had also sought corrections in the document, which were accepted.

Despite this, Chaudhry said, the action committee resumed protests on September 29, which were unnecessary.

Meanwhile, PoK premier Haq stressed that negotiations were the only civilised way to resolve disputes and insisted there was no benefit to continuing protests.

Haq confirmed that three policemen had been killed and more than one hundred injured in the unrest, including eight critically wounded. He said the government placed equal value on the lives of both police and civilians.

He added that the government was ready to resume talks from the point where they had stalled, and cabinet members were present in Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot for the purpose.

He urged the action committee to stop agitation and return to the negotiation table, warning that inciting people through citizens would only push matters towards anarchy.

He further said that the incidents, including the burning of a school building during protests, demonstrated why dialogue was essential.

“Public rights are buried where human lives are lost,” Haq said.

Earlier, Dawn newspaper reported that at least one person was killed and over a dozen others injured — including a policeman — in PoK on Monday, as the region observed a shutdown and wheel-jam strike amid a communications blackout.

Mobile and internet services have remained suspended in PoK since Sunday noon, and sources said the curbs could continue.

Reports also suggested that similar protests were staged in Rawalakot and Sudhnoti, while in Bhimber, a rally was led by Haq’s brother, Ehsanul Haq, who is associated with the PTI of Imran Khan.

A high-level federal government delegation rushed to Muzaffarabad on Thursday, following Sharif’s instructions, to hold talks with the protestors in an effort to end the unrest in the region.

The development came following a three-day strike by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), prompted by the failure of the talks between the JKJAAC, representatives of PoK and the federal government to address the issues raised by the protesters.

Hours later, the committee led by former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf reached Muzaffarabad to meet the representatives of the JKJAAC, a body of traders, local leaders and civil society, protesting to force the authorities to meet its demands.

It has issued a 38-point charter of demands, including ending 12 reserved seats for refugees and rolling back “privileges of the elite”.

Other members of the delegation included federal ministers Sardar Yusuf and Ahsan Iqbal, Amir Muqam, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Senator Rana Sanaullah, former minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and former PoK “President” Masood Khan.

“A high-level delegation from Pakistan started formal dialogue with representatives of the Joint Action Committee” in Muzaffarabad today, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry posted on social media. No further details have been shared about the outcome of talks.

Meanwhile, expressing “deep concern over the unfortunate incidents during the protests”, PM Sharif ordered a transparent investigation into the matter, his office said in a statement.