New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS) Without naming Pakistan, visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Tuesday said "no civilised state can hide terrorists".

"Terrorists are criminals. They, of course, should be punished. Those who hide terrorists conceal their crimes. No modern civilised state can hide terrorists as law abiding citizens. They are subject to punishment," Medvedev said at a joint press conference here with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He was replying to a question by IANS on safe havens of terror across the Indian border and how India and Russia were cooperating to tackle the menace.

"Our cooperation is productive and open. We are interested in strengthening that cooperation," Medvedev added.

Manmohan Singh said, "India and Russia are both victims of terrorists, as such there is a natural synergy of interests in working together to deal with this menace."

"We should cooperate in information sharing and intelligence sharing and devise effective counter-terrorism strategies," the prime minister said.