Industry groups said the timing is significant, as it comes when Russia is seeking to diversify suppliers and India is aiming to deepen its footprint in high-value sectors

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has defended India’s freedom of choice to choose its global partners, asserting that New Delhi’s ties with Moscow had been the biggest and steadiest in a world fraught with geopolitical ups and downs.

Both sides accuse the other of starting the overnight fighting and breaching a fragile ceasefire agreed in October. 

​Both sides accuse the other of starting the overnight fighting and breaching a fragile ceasefire agreed in October.