New Delhi, Dec. 7 -- Days after Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit, former Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, Talmiz Ahmad, on Sunday said the West must understand that India retains the right to shape and structure its ties with other countries.

He also advocated for the use of "strategic autonomy" for India amid social media criticism by Americans for hosting Putin, who is heavily criticised by the Republicans and Democrats alike for waging a war against Ukraine.

In an interview with ANI, Ahmad, former Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, said that Putin's visit to India remains significant but comes at a time of "deep divide". Although he added that there has been a divide between West and East since t...