INDIA: VLADIMIR PUTIN VISITS THE TAJ MAHAL

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken time out of his hectic Indian schedule to make a sightseeing visit to the Taj Mahal.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Putin in a special address to India's Parliament, said the five-decade long dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, could be resolved only on a bilateral basis, without outside interference.

In an apparent reference to Islamic militants, he told the special gathering of Parliament that the people responsible for terrorism in Kashmir were the same as those responsible for the rebellion in Chechnya.

He blamed the same terrorists for organizing terrorist attacks from the Philippines to Kosovo, including Kashmir, Afghanistan and Russia's North Caucasus.

The Kremlin has recently tried to establish contacts with Pakistan after decades of hostility, stoking fears in India.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, which both countries claim in its entirety.

India and Russia also signed five defence agreements on Wednesday that will bolster India's defence needs.

The estimated 3 (b) billion U-S dollar military hardware deal includes the purchase of 310 Russian-made T-90 battle tanks and the licensed production in India of Sukhoi fighter jets.

The Indian navy will acquire a refurbished Russian aircraft carrier.

The two countries also signed an agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

President Putin is then expected to continue on to Bombay, where he will meet with business leaders and tour India's main atomic research centre on Thursday, before flying back to Moscow.

It's the first visit to India by a Russian leader in seven years.
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