NEW DELHI: Expressing concern at the "continuing deterioration" of the situation in Iraq, India and Russia declared here on Thursday that the developments indicated the need for "collective international efforts" toward restoring early normality in the West Asian nation.

A joint statement issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin said that India and Russia agreed that "a return to peace, stability and progress in Iraq can only be achieved through reconciliation and a broad internal dialogue between all ethnic and religious groups and political forces of the country."

The two countries were "convinced" that an effective solution to the Iranian nuclear issue would best be found through political and diplomatic efforts. "They agreed that implementation of [U.N. Security Council] Resolution [1737 on Iran] should facilitate resumption of negotiations for a long-term comprehensive agreement which would allow for the development of relations and cooperation with Iran based on mutual respect and the establishment of international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme."

`Practical cooperation'

Declaring their interest in strengthening bilateral and multilateral interaction in Central Asia, which would contribute to enhanced stability and security in the region, India and Russia advocated the development of "practical cooperation" among all partner countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Both countries said they were concerned about the "continuing deterioration" of the situation in Afghanistan and the growing terrorist threat posed by the Taliban and other extremist forces. India and Russia were interested in strengthening Afghanistan's statehood, the joint statement continued.

According to the statement, the strategic partnership between India and Russia had not only served the long-term national interests of the two countries, but had also contributed to the stability and security of Asia and the world in general.

Calling for the expansion of India-China-Russia trilateral cooperation, the joint statement said this format enhanced international accord in countering new challenges, especially in the fight against terrorism, and contributed to strengthening peace and stability in Asia and the rest of the world.

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