NEW DELHI, December 4 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Russian and India Wednesday, December 4, came out strongly against the use of force in Iraq as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said they opposed the use of force in Iraq and wanted to see a political and diplomatic solution to the crisis.

They also demanded Pakistan to end its support for militants in the disputed state of Kashmir.

"Both sides strongly opposed the unilateral use or threat of use of force in violation of the UN charter as well as interference in internal affairs of other states," they said in a joint statement in New Delhi.

"It was stressed (in their talks) that the comprehensive settlement of the situation around Iraq is possible only through political and diplomatic efforts in strict conformity with the rules of international law only under the aegis of the United Nations," the statement added.

"Both sides noted the importance of continuing intensive work with the Iraqi leadership in order to encourage it to cooperate in good faith with the United Nations," it said.

Putin and Vajpayee, at the end of intensive talks, also signed a landmark agreement - the Delhi Declaration - for the "further consolidation of strategic partnership" between the two long-time allies.

On Kashmir, Vajpayee and Putin "stressed the importance of Islamabad implementing in full its obligations and promises to prevent the infiltration of terrorists across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and at other points across the border."

They also called on Islamabad "to eliminate terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled territory as a pre-requisite for the renewal of the peace dialogue" between India and Pakistan "to resolve all outstanding issues in a bilateral framework."

The joint statement said India and Russia, facing Islamic insurgencies in Kashmir and Chechnya respectively, were determined "to enhance collective and bilateral efforts to prevent and suppress terrorism."

"Such measures should be directed also against those states, entities and individuals who support, fund or abet terrorists or provide them shelter or asylum to engage in cross-border terrorism.

"There should be no double-standards in the fight against terrorism," they said.

India accuses Pakistan of arming, training and funding Islamic rebels fighting since 1989 to end New Delhi's rule in Muslim-majority Kashmir. Pakistan says it provides only moral and diplomatic support to an "indigenous movement for self-determination."

The insurgency has claimed more than 37,500 lives, or twice that according to separatists.

Putin was in New Delhi on a three-day official visit. He held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha and Defense Minister George Fernandes on Wednesday before meeting Vajpayee later in the day.