Russian naval ships left Vladivostok on Tuesday to take part in the first ever joint anti-terror exercises with Indian forces, scheduled for next month off the coast of Visakhapatanam.
Led by Pacific Fleet's flagship, missile cruiser Varyag, the fleet, which will participate in the Indo-Russian wargames IndRo-2005, also includes anti-submarine ships Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev, tanker Pechenega and tugboat Kalar.
The group is led by the Deputy Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Vice Admiral Sergei Abramenko. This would be the second joint naval wargames between the navies of India and Russia in the post-Soviet era. The first joint exercises were held in May 2003 in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
Under the IndRO-2005 wargames, Indian and Russian paratroopers would also conduct anti-terror drill near Suratgarh in Rajasthan, which would be watched by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov. A unit of Russia's elite Pskov Airborne Paratrooper Division, stationed less than 30 miles from the new NATO border, is to fly to Agra with equipment in mid-October for the drill.
On their way to India, the Russian ships will also call in at ports of Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, Russian state TV, Rossia, reported. The cruise is aimed at strengthening international ties and will contribute to the strengthening of stability and cooperation in the Asian-Pacific Region, it said.