With just over a year left for India to get its first leased nuclear submarine from Russia, New Delhi last week quietly revived its dialogue with Moscow for a second Akula-class submarine.

While India has openly denied any interest in a nuclear submarine, talks on leasing the second submarine figured in a meeting on August 27 between National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and senior Russian officials including First Deputy Prime Minister of Sergei Ivanov, and Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

According to sources, a decision on the second lease may be taken on the sidelines of the India-Russia summit in December this year.

When New Delhi signed the lease contract for the first nuclear submarine from Russia in 2004-2005, it had also initiated negotiations for the second submarine but discussions broke down due to differences over terms and conditions.

But this year, the government is under pressure from the Navy to clinch the deal. Government sources told The Sunday Express that India is worried about a shift in focus of China’s military doctrine from land

to sea. Beijing is already firming up bilateral ties with Pakistan (Gwadar port) and Myanmar to enhance its involvement in the complex energy security scenario that’s currently unfolding in the Indian Ocean.

Besides, given the huge volumes of oil traffic between Persian Gulf and Malacca Straits towards North Asia, the Indian Navy is also interested in having a long-range nuclear platform on the eastern as well as western seaboards. Of course, a nuclear submarine also adds up to a second strike capability.

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