Russian President Vladimir Putin extended Thursday his condolences with regard to the death of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, noting the latter's contribution to the development of the Russian-Indian relations.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th August, 2018) Russian President Vladimir Putin extended Thursday his condolences with regard to the death of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, noting the latter's contribution to the development of the Russian-Indian relations.
Earlier in the day, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, where the politician, 93, had been treated for the past nine weeks, reported his death.
"Dear Mr. President [Ram Nath Kovind], dear Mr. Prime Minister [Narendra Modi], have my sincerest condolences on the death of Atal Bihari Vajpayee � an outstanding statesman and former Indian prime minister. Atal Bihari Vajpayee rightly enjoyed high international standing. He will be remembered as a politician, who made a considerable personal contribution to the development of friendly relations between our countries and the shaping of the Russian-Indian privileged strategic partnership," a message posted on the Kremlin official website said.
Vajpayee served as Indian prime minister briefly in 1996 and then again in 1998-2004, prior to which he occupied post of external affairs minister in 1977-1979.
