India, Dec. 5 -- India and Russia have been friends since the cold war days when India refused to join the western bloc and charted its Non-aligned course. It came at its own peril as the US sided with Pakistan and was suspicious of India's intention. But the gamble paid off as India maintained its independent foreign policy without budging to the US pressure. Russia supported it in the times of crisis and the friendship endured.
In the present context too, this holds good as India has refused to bow to the US pressure and maintained steady relation with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to New Delhi will go a long way in cementing this relationship as both countries need each other than ever before. For India, the vis...