The end of the cold war and the disintegration of the USSR transformed the entire fabric of post-second world war security arrangements in Asia. In this backdrop, South Asia emerged as one of the most challenging regions for Russia from the point of view traditional security. Since Russia has traditionally maintained good relations with the other states of South Asia and they do not pose any direct challenge to Russia’s vital national interests, the analysis in this article has been restricted to the dominant players in South Asia – India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The
influence, role and interests of outside powers, especially China and the United States, have also been taken into account when dealing with Russia’s South Asia policy.

Keywords: Russia; South Asia; Foreign Policy; Security; India.