Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an annual summit, focusing on diversifying economic ties. The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes as the U.S. pushes for a Ukraine peace deal and global cooperation. On Thursday, Modi greeted Putin in New Delhi with a warm welcome. After the talks, both leaders announced a program to boost trade to $100 billion by 2030, emphasizing strong energy ties. India aims to bridge trade deficits by increasing exports. The U.S. is pressuring India to reduce its Russian oil imports, citing concerns over financing Moscow's war efforts.
The friendliness between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump was seen as a relationship like no other. The two men often shared bear hugs, showered flattering praise on each other and made appearances at stadium rallies — a boost in the arm for two populist leaders with ideological similarities. All appeared well until a series of events left the ties between them — and their countries — sour. From Trump's tariffs and India's purchase of oil from Russia to a U.S. tilt towards Pakistan, friction between New Delhi and Washington has been noticeable.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India has only "paused its military action" and will "retaliate on its own terms" if there is any future terror attack on the country. They were his first public comments since Saturday's understanding between India and Pakistan to stop all military actions in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Indian and Pakistani authorities said there was no firing reported overnight along the heavily militarized region between their countries. It was the first time in recent days they were not shooting at each other. The hostilities between the nuclear-armed rivals after a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir had threatened regional peace.
Indian police say gunmen have killed at least 26 tourists at a resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Tuesday's attack appears to be a major shift in the regional conflict in which tourists have largely been spared from violence. Two senior police officers say at least four gunmen, whom they described as militants, fired at dozens of tourists from close range. The officers say at least three dozen others were injured, with many in serious condition. The region's top elected official says the attack is "much larger than anything we've seen directed at civilians in recent years."
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as New Delhi looks to avoid U.S. tariffs, negotiate a bilateral trade deal with Washington and strengthen ties with the Trump administration. Vance is on a largely personal four-day visit to India. Vance met with Modi at his residence in New Delhi on Monday. Modi's office said that the two leaders "reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation." The U.S. is India's largest trading partner and the two countries are now holding negotiations aiming to seal a bilateral trade agreement this year.
By EMMA BURROWS and KRUTIKA PATHI Associated Press
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, seeking to deepen the two nuclear powers' relationship as NATO leaders gathered in Washington and Russia and launched deadly missile strikes in Ukraine that destroyed a children's hospital. Modi is on his first trip to Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin's forces in 2022. He has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement. Their partnership has become fraught, however, as Russia has moved closer to China amid international isolation of Moscow over Ukraine. Modi alluded to the bloodshed, saying, "When innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, then the heart pains. And that pain is very horrible."
Since coming to power a decade ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been known for big, bold and often snap decisions. He's found them easy to execute thanks to the brute majority he enjoyed in India's lower house of parliament. In his expected next term as prime minister, he will need a coalition to govern after results announced Wednesday showed his Hindu nationalist party fell short of a majority. That may mean that Modi will have to adapt to a style of governance he has little experience with, or desire for.
By KRUTIKA PATHI, SHEIKH SAALIQ and DAVID RISING Associated Press
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's National Democratic Alliance coalition has won a majority in parliament, according to official results from India's Election Commission. Modi had already declared victory for his alliance earlier Tuesday, claiming a mandate to push forward with his agenda, even though his party lost seats to a stronger than expected opposition, which pushed back against his mixed economic record and polarizing politics. More than 640 million votes were cast in the marathon election held over a span of six weeks in the world's largest democratic exercise.
