MOSCOW, JAN 15: Russia's new military doctrine, propounded amidst a devastating war against Islamic rebels in Chechnya, singles out India and China as 'strategic partners' with whom Moscow would seek greater military and defence cooperation in future."The final draft of the new military doctrine has identified top priorities in Russia's military and defence cooperation with foreign countries, which will be accorded to Belarus, CIS countries, traditional and strategic partners India and China and some other countries," first deputy Chief of General Staff, Colonel-General Valery Manilov, was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass. The new doctrine is to be adopted in February.The only significant omission from the list of strategic partners is Pakistan, whom Moscow accuses of supporting Islamic rebels in Chechnya fighting against Russian troops. Thousands of Russian troops have been killed in the war that broke out after rebels occupied the loyal Soviet Republic of Dageshtan in August last year.Manilov was quoted as saying that Russia regards all the nations of the world as partners "except those, who act outside the framework of the UN charter, hatch and implement aggressive plans against her and her allies."Russia has on several occasions directly accused Pakistan of supporting Chechen rebels and encouraging anti-Russia and anti-India terrorism in the name of Islam.
