FOREIGN POLICY: New, Strong and Clear Outreach

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India’s muscular China-Pakistan policy is the way to go, but prepare for turbulence
Relations between Asian rivals India and China have come under considerable strain in the recent months as mutual misgivings are steadily mounting. A slew of issues has led to the current strain and is likely to continue, unless one or the other blinks. However, neither country appears to be in the mood to do so. “Positions have hardened and India must be prepared for a period of strained relations with China and Pakistan,’’ said former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh.


Strategic moves The strategic dynamic of the region is changing. China has been consistently backing Pakistan against India: Whether that be blocking India’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, citing technical reasons for not supporting UN sanctions against Jaish-e-Mohammad leader Masood Azhar, or building massive infrastructure projects in PoK, which India claims as its own.

.China is watching with some concern India’s growing warmth with the US. Beijing believes that Washington is propping up New Delhi to balance China’s increasing military might in the Asia-Pacific. India has also been vocal about the South China Sea. During President Barack Obama’s visit, India and US had issued a separate joint statement on the South China Sea calling for all parties to respect international laws.


The signing of the Logistics Agreement in Washington which allows India and US to use each other’s facilities is being seen in Beijing as another step in that direction. The agreement had been in the works for years as the UPA government had refused to sign it as many in the Congress saw it moving into the US orbit. The UPA also did not want to annoy China as improving relations with its giant neighbour was a priority of the Manmohan Singh-led regime.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Xi Jinping in Hangzhou, where he was attending the G20 Summit hosted by China. In the bilateral talks, Modi spoke frankly. Unlike in the past when many things were left unsaid, Modi did not shy away from mentioning India’s concerns about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. New Delhi has been publicly talking about its unhappiness about the $46 billion project, which was announced by Xi, during his visit to Pakistan. Not a word of this was mentioned to India, even though Xi flew to Islamabad after a successful visit to India, where he and the First Lady were entertained by Modi on the banks of the Sabarmati.


“China should have at least informed India about it, considering India claims PoK. Courtesy demanded it,’’ said Mansingh. Unlike many other countries in the region, India has not been enthusiastic about Xi’s One Belt One Road initiative. At the moment as China prepares to launch its ambitious project, India’s protests are hardly likely to make an impact. Uncertain times are ahead, unless China shows some concession “As a matter of principle, both countries would have to be sensitive to each other’s strategic interests. In order to promote positive convergences, we will also need to prevent negative perceptions. For this the specific actions by both countries would play the major role,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup paraphrased the prime minister as saying, at the briefing after the talks between the two leaders. Significantly, without naming Pakistan, China’s all-weather friend, Modi said: “Our response to terrorism must not be motivated by political considerations.” He also spoke of terrorism coming from the area. Although Pakistan was not named, the reference was obvious. Significantly the CPEC is part of Xi’s pet projects which he hopes will transform the entire Central Asian economy.


The CPEC envisages rail, road and pipeline projects to ferry oil and gas from Gwadar Port (built earlier by China) in Balochistan to Kashghar in China’s Xinjiang province through PoK. Pakistan is naturally enthusiastic about the CPEC. Political parties and moreimportantly, the army are fired up by the project, but people in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province are not. India’s open support for the Baloch cause announced by Modi in his Independence Day speech, has been hailed by the people there. Pakistan has long accused India of interfering in Balochistan and blamed Indian intelligence working out of Afghanistan of aiding Baloch “terror outfits”. These charges will escalate in the days and months to come.

hinese interests will also be affected. This is why Shyam Saran, a former foreign secretary and astute diplomat believes that if India takes on China, as it is doing about the CPEC, it has to be ready to take the consequences. It is not just Pakistan now in PoK and Balochistan, but Chinese interests as well. Mansingh however welcomed India’s muscular stand on the South China Sea, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. “Chinese respond to strength and know the power game. Previously, India’s foreign policy was about moral principles and not real politik. This is the way forward.’’ The fact that India and the US are on the same page on China’s aggressive stand in the South China Sea, is a plus. Japan, India, US, Vietnam are all ranged together and there is strength in numbers. Modi’s visit to Hanoi ahead of the G-20 meet, was also a pointer that Delhi can also woo Beijing’s neighbours.

Even though China will certainly not change its stand on the CPEC, India must continue to flag its concerns in every forum, said Mansingh. Uncertain times are ahead, unless China shows some concession. Allowing India smooth entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, when the issue comes up in the last quarter of the year, may change the equation. This will help to smooth the way to better ties.

idrw.org . Read more at India No 1 Defence News Website , Kindly don't paste our work in other websites http://idrw.org/indias-muscular-china-pakistan-policy-is-the-way-to-go-but-prepare-for-turbulence/ .

 

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Why India is looking stronger in Greater Asia more than ever

Three recent developments have transformed the region's geopolitics.

First, United States secretary of state John Kerry in Delhi last week announced a US-India-Afghanistan trilateral axis to protect regional security. Pakistan was pointedly left out.


Second, the Indian government reaffirmed its clear-sighted new policy on Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). A firm but nuanced policy on Balochistan, which comprises 44 per cent of Pakistan's territory, will yield strategic dividends.


Third, the G-20 meeting in Hangzhou, China, earlier this week re-emphasised India's pivotal role in "Greater Asia".

From Egypt to Vietnam, India's geopolitical arc of influence now rises up from the Middle East to the Central Asian Republics, dips through the Indian Ocean, and sweeps across the South China Sea.

US support

The US is fully on board with this strategy of Greater Asia and India's pivotal role. Washington has little choice. China presents a growing threat to US economic and military hegemony.

China's GDP is already larger than America's in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms. Even at current exchange rates, China's economy is well over half of America's and will surpass it within the next decade.

China's defence budget ($146 billion) is dwarfed by America's $600 billion annual military spending but Beijing is catching up fast. Washington needs a strong counter to China in Greater Asia.


India alone fits the bill. That is why Kerry repeated President Barack Obama's homily in Delhi: "The India-US relationship is the defining partnership of the 21st century."


China is relatively isolated. Its neighbours distrust it. That is a predicament it shares with Pakistan. Islamabad is distrusted by virtually all its neighbours:

Iran, Afghanistan, India and, though it doesn't share a border, Bangladesh. China is similarly distrusted by its neighbours: Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines and other littoral states.

Beijing's cavalier disregard of the award against it by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) based in the Hague, Netherlands, in its maritime dispute with the Philippines shows the contempt with which it treats international law.

China's rhetoric against the award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has damaged its international reputation.

In Pakistan, it has a like-minded ally. Countering the China-Pakistan axis needs a calibrated strategy by Indian policymakers.


The first step was to ring fence and neutralise traditional Pakistan allies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to both counties.


The unity of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over Kashmir too has been broken. Syria recently rejected the OIC line favouring Pakistan and publicly declared that India should solve "Kashmir in any way it wants".

This was the outcome of a successful visit to Damascus by the minister of state for external affairs, MJ Akbar.

Anxious Pak

The visit of Egyptian President Abdel Fateh el-Sisi to India on his way to the G-20 summit in China last week demonstrates the success the Indian government has had in eroding the support Pakistan traditionally sought and received from the Middle East over Kashmir.

Pakistan is anxious that the lifeline to its economy, the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), goes through without a hitch.

But there are two problems.

The first is the mounting insurgency in Balochistan where the CPEC begins at Gwadar port and traverses through several hundred miles of hostile Baloch territory.

Pakistan has committed 10,000 security personnel to guard the corridor in Balochistan to allay Chinese fears of terror attacks by the Taliban.

Over 8,100 of these men are already in place guarding an estimated 9,000 Chinese working on CPEC projects in Balochistan.

The second problem is Gilgit-Baltistan, formerly known as the Northern Areas. It is six times larger than the rest of POK. Its people are constitutionally citizens of India.

The CPEC passes through Gilgit-Baltistan on its way to Xinjiang, China's large restive province. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan have been protesting the appalling conditions in which they live. They have little infrastructure and no freedom.

China concern

The Chinese are hyper-sensitive about Islamist terrorism being exported to Xinjiang which has a significant Muslim population.


China has warned Islamabad that most of the terrorists infiltrating into Xinjiang are trained in POK and receive sanctuaries there.

Foreign secretary S Jaishankar (a former ambassador to China and the US) has recognised the need to recalibrate India's foreign policy.

The Prime Minister's Office has endorsed a proactive strategy on Balochistan, POK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Pressure on China can now be built in two ways:

One, from the rapidly evolving India-US strategic partnership; and two, from India's growing influence with littoral countries in the South China Sea, especially Vietnam, which the PM pointedly visited a day before the G-20 Summit in China.

India has many other aces up its sleeve, including building closer economic ties with the first anti-Beijing government in Taiwan since the mid-1990s (led by the country's first woman prime minister, Tsai Ing-wen) as well as hosting more free-Tibet conferences in India.

Pakistan, as a vendor state with terrorism as its principal regional export, and China, as a violator of international legal strictures, form a natural axis.

It is an axis that is both brittle and disruptive. A sophisticated counter-strategy must fully use that brittleness to enhance India's pivotal role in shaping Greater Asia.

(Courtesy of Mail Today.)
http://www.dailyo.in/politics/g20-j...-sea-gilgit-baltistan-cpec/story/1/12824.html

 

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UK To Cooperate With India In Counter-Terrorism



Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre met with UK's Minister of Defence Procurement Harriett Baldvin.
New Delhi: The UK has acknowledged India's stand on terrorism and expressed its resolve to cooperate in the field of counter-terrorism.

Minister of State for Defense Subhash Bhamre in a meeting with UK's Minister of Defence Procurement Harriett Baldvin in London "drew attention to challenges being faced by the two countries due to increased terrorist activities globally, as well as cross-border terrorism being faced by India", a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense said.

"Bhamre emphasized that terrorism is a global phenomenon and a clear message must go to countries supporting terrorism.

There could be no differentiation between good and bad terrorists," the statement said.

Mr Baldvin "acknowledged India's stand on terrorism and expressed the UK's resolve to cooperate in the field of counter terrorism," it said.

The two leaders also explored avenues for Defense co-operation, especially in the context of the Narendra Modi government's Make In India initiative.

Talks were also held on Indo-UK collaboration in joint research, development and production.
Mr Bhamre, who is in the UK to attend United Nations Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial Conference 2016, reiterated India's resolve in enhancing its defense capability and improving its defense industrial base.

He invited greater participation of the UK in the 'Make in India' program.
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uk-to-cooperate-with-india-in-counter-terrorism-1455895

 

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Why India Needs An Overarching Strategic Discourse In National Interest

by Sudarshan Ramabadran
To recall the wise words of Robert Greene who advocates what he calls the ‘Grand Strategy’, be prepared to lose battles but win the war.


For the first time Arup Raha, India’s serving Air force Chief came out with a strong indictment of India’s lopsided foreign policy post-independence in an apparent reference to the much contentious Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
To quote, “Our foreign policy was enshrined in the charter of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Panchsheel doctrines. We have been governed by high ideals and we did not follow a pragmatic approach, to my mind the security needs. When hoards of raiders attacked Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 a military solution was in sight, taking moral high ground, I think we went to the UN for a peaceful solution to this problem. The problem still continues, PoK still remains a thorn in our flesh today.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Express has begun a poll seeking opinions from readers if they agreed or not if India could have taken PoK militarily? However time and again, the key point being missed by the media or any other relevant stakeholder is that there is no argument or for that matter a debate or a discussion on whether India lacked strategic impetus with respect to its foreign policy vis-a-vis national interests.

Arup Raha’s words signify how India lacked the strategic culture in determining its foreign policy to suit national interests. Since independence and well up to the 90s, India has witnessed elected governments unabashedly compromising national interest at critical junctures. These Governments of the day have always opted for a safe passage (the Non-Alignment Movement being a prime example) instead of pragmatic solutions in asserting India’s place and unfortunately these wounds still hurt the country.


For instance, staying with PoK, a pertinent question which remains unanswered till date is why didn’t the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi order the liberation of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan after East Pakistan’s liberation in 1971, considering that these areas are an integral part of India’s territory under illegal Pakistani occupation.

Another strategic blunder with respect to Jammu and Kashmir was again committed thanks to Indira Gandhi, who ordered the release of 93,000 war prisoners in East Pakistan under the 1972 Shimla Agreement. Senior retired intelligence officers like late B. Raman in his writings have questioned the return of prisoners without insisting on a formal recognition in writing by Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India? This question has not just confounded but continued to bleed India.

However, having produced one of the world’s finest strategic minds in Chanakya, India has not been deprived of strategic thinking in contemporary history. Traces of this were witnessed under then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao which has been recorded aptly by Vinay Sitapati in the ‘Half Lion – how P.V. Narasimha Rao transformed India’. A noteworthy excerpt from the book is about when India realised that the road to Washington DC passed through Tel Aviv. On inputs from government and intelligence officials, Narasimha Rao led India to vote in favour of Israel at the UN in 1991. Interestingly that same month, Rao decided to invite the Palestine leader late Yasser Arafat - who understood and acknowledged that any choice of the Indian Government will be respected - to Delhi for a bilateral. And in January, 1992, India announced full diplomatic relations with Israel.

India’s composite strategic culture has a glorious past; lessons from Arjuna’s charioteer Krishna in the Mahabharata can serve as directive principles for a country in pursuit of a strategic doctrine. Krishna’s move such as taking Vidura away from Duryodhana to advise the Pandavas on strategic affairs is a significant lesson. Vidura was such a genius that he went on to set the rules and regulations of the Mahabharata war. In addition, India has produced several treatises pre-dating Chanakya Neeti, like the Vidura Neeti (dialogue between Vidura and Dhritarashtra), the Yaksha Prashna (dialogue between Yudhistir and Yaksha – a crane) which till date serve as invaluable catalysts in weaving one’s thoughts, words and deeds into strategic culture and thinking.


In his book 33 strategies of War, Robert Greene describes the necessity to arm oneself with strategic thinking. He writes, “Everyone around you is angling for power, all trying to promote their own interests, often at your expense. Your daily battle with them makes you lose sight of the only thing that really matters: victory in the end, the achievement of greater goals, lasting power. The grand strategy is the art of looking beyond the battle and calculating ahead.”


India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated signs of ‘calculating ahead’. At an all-party meeting called to discuss the situation in Jammu and Kashmir recently, PM Modi made it amply clear that the Government was keen to find lasting solutions under the framework of the Indian constitution. In addition and most importantly, the Prime Minister also conveyed to leaders cutting across party lines that PoK belongs to India and that the time had come to expose Islamabad's atrocities in Baluchistan.

And the Prime Minister did not stop there; he took the same message to the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of India’s 70th Independence Day. He said, “I want to greet and express my thanks to some people. In the last few days, people of Baluchistan, Gilgit, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have thanked me, and expressed good wishes for me. The people who are living far away, whom I have never seen, never met - such people have expressed appreciation for Prime Minister of India, for 125 crore countrymen.”

This gesture from the Prime Minister came as a certain follow up to the all-party meet to signal that India will use Baluchistan as a pressure point vis-à-vis Pakistan. This particular strategic trait was found missing in the previous regimes which chose to ignore Pakistan especially in the case of Baluchistan.


Another case in point is Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Vietnam just before the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China. India’s willingness to partner Vietnam in defence exports and marine preparedness can be discerned as a move to contain the growing Chinese military assertiveness. Therefore just the visit to the country by an Indian PM (a first in 15 years) will certainly be seen as a counter stroke to China’s policy of arming India’s enemy Pakistan.

Thus, if one wants to achieve overarching goals in life by embracing alternatives and uncertainties, then it is not enough if just the Prime Minister or a Chief Minister or an MLA or an MP practice strategic thinking. It becomes vital for every citizen to imbibe this trait every step of the way. To recall the wise words of Robert Greene who advocates what he calls the ‘Grand Strategy’, this can be a timely reminder for everyone to follow.

He writes, “In the Grand Strategy, be prepared to lose battles but win the war. This requires that you focus on your ultimate goal and plot to reach it. In grand strategy you consider the political ramifications and long-term consequences of what you do. Instead of reacting emotionally to people, you take control, and make your actions more dimensional, subtle and effective. Let others get caught up in the twists and turns of the battle, relishing their little victories. Grand strategy will bring you the ultimate reward: the Last Laugh.”

Source>>

 

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India may promise more arms to Afghanistan during Ghani’s visit

Kabul is desperate for military hardware for firepower and support in the face of increasing violence
India is all set to scale up its military assistance to Afghanistan.

According to officials, the stepped up assistance is likely to be announced during the visit of President Ashraf Ghani next week. “A list of urgent requirements has already been handed over to which the Indian response has been positive. It will be discussed and cleared during Mr. Ghani’s visit,” diplomatic sources told The Hindu.

Mr. Ghani is expected in Delhi next Monday.

Changed policy
India, which has shied away from supplying lethal weapons to foreign militaries, changed its policy last year with the supply of four Mi-25 attack helicopters. Following this, Afghanistan, in desperate for military hardware for firepower and support in the face of increasing violence, has sought additional assistance from India. The requirements were handed over to the Indian side last week during the visit of the Chief of Afghan National Army General Qadam Shah Shahim.

Priority items on the list include utility and attack helicopters, artillery, ammunition and spares in addition help in reviving some of the Soviet era factories in Afghanistan. However, on spares and revival India has to coordinate with Russia.

While India seems to be more open in supplying lethal hardware, the equipment largely being of Russian hardware needs technical support from Moscow. This was evident in the case of Mi-25 helicopters with one of the promised four still grounded due to lack of spares which have to come from Russia.

A diplomatic source said efforts were on for a three-way discussions and this was expected to come up for discussion during Mr. Ghani’s bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

..
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...nistan-during-ghanis-visit/article9086543.ece

Good India Russia collaboration in defense deals!!

 

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John Kerry’s Visit Gives More Teeth to India in Afghanistan
Can New Delhi take advantage of the diplomatic opening?

As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited the Indian capital of New Delhi to spend what became an uncharacteristically long trip, the developments in and around his visit as far as India and Afghanistan are concerned were perhaps the most important outcomes.

In Afghanistan’s Helmand province, not far from the southern infamous bastion of Kandahar, a battle between the Taliban and government forces is raging, one that perhaps could sketch the future of the current government in Kabul, which is resting on a fragile framework of power sharing between former political rivals President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah.

The circle around Kerry’s visit as far as Afghanistan is concerned was encompassing. Only days earlier, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai was in New Delhi, and gave a host of interviews both backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to invoke Pakistan’s oppression in Balochistan and reiterating the call for greater military assistance from India for the Afghan armed forces (India gave Afghanistan four Russian made Mi 25 attack helicopters in December last year).


While Kerry was in New Delhi, Afghanistan’s Army Chief, General Qadam Shah Shahim, met with his Indian counterpart General Dalbir Singh Suhag. Shahim was in the capital “against the backdrop of enhanced military and defense cooperation” between the two countries. He also met 135 Afghan cadets out of around 800 undergoing training in India. Earlier in August, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, was also in New Delhi to talk to his counterparts in the Indian defense establishment for further Indian military assistance and potential roles in the country.

In a press conference with Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, Kerry also announced an Afghanistan-India-U.S. trilateral dialogue at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. According to analysts, this news would have been treated with considerable disgruntlement in Pakistan, specifically within its military complex, which actively works to undermine Indian interests in Kabul.

The security situation in Afghanistan is precarious. In the country’s south, the Taliban has made significant inroads in Helmand, the largest province in the country. Here, Afghan police and the army have been battling to contain what could be a complete collapse of the region back into the hands of the Taliban. The fight for Helmand comes after other areas such as Kunduz faced similar losses of both territory and people, so much so that for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. had to deploy its frontline long-range B-52 bombers over the Afghan skies to help local armed forces. Beyond the Taliban, there have been spurts of Islamists aligning themselves with ISIS, specifically around the region of Nangarhar. It is, however, widely believed that most pro-ISIS terrorists in Afghanistan are in fact disgruntled former Taliban and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters and commanders.

The offensive capability of the Taliban comes on the back of the rearrangement of the Taliban leadership, with the group’s high council, also known as the Quetta Shura, working towards assimilation of its various factions after internal strife caused by the death of former Taliban leaders Mullah Omar and Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour. Last month, the powerful Taliban faction known as the Mullah Dadullah Front (MDF) reconciled with the Quetta Shura under the organization’s new chief, Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada, who is believed to have brought the notorious Pakistan-based and ISI-backed Haqqani Network to some prominence within the Taliban structures. Between the appointment of Mullah Mansour, the news of Mullah Omar’s demise being made public last year, and Mullah Mansour’s death in a drone strike, the Taliban leadership went through great internal realignment. Mullah Mansour Dadullah was named the military chief of the Taliban after his brother and founder of the MDF, Mullah Dadullah Akhund, was killed in 2007 by British forces. However, the churn within the shura has continued, with Maulvi Ibrahm Sadar, a former close aide to Mullah Omar, now being announced as the new military chief for the Taliban. Much of the churn within the Taliban’s top brass is about one topic: whether to negotiate a long-term political settlement with Kabul or not.

A Stronger India-US Partnership in Afghanistan?

India’s Afghanistan policy is one of its biggest successes, surviving changes in government and remaining possibly the country’s most important endeavor outside its borders. India has spent in excess of $3 billion on aid and developmental projects in Afghanistan, and plans to do much more. In June, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the much-delayed Salma Dam on a visit to Herat, a trip that reportedly kept his security apparatus on its toes. In December 2015, Modi visited Kabul to open the new, India-funded, parliament building. Ghani thanked India for its “valuable assistance” as his country weathered “hard times.” “We are bound by a thousand ties,” was Modi’s answer.

Even as India has backed Kabul in almost all of its political endeavors, there have been times under both Ghani and his predecessor Hamid Karzai when New Delhi and Kabul have not seen eye to eye. Under Karzai, India and Afghanistan were at odds during the then Afghan president’s overtures towards Pakistan, a bid to bring peace on its porous and fraught borders on the Durand line. In 2011, Karzai called India a “friend” but went a step further and called Pakistan Afghanistan’s “twin-brother.” “Pakistan is suffering from the same menace (terrorism)…it suffers even more than us. India, fortunately, suffers from this only occasionally,” Karzai said in New Delhi at an event attended by India’s then Foreign Minister SM Krishna and Pakistan’s then High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik.

Ghani began his time in office with additional positive overtures towards Islamabad, although relations quickly went south as attacks in Kabul and elsewhere became more frequent. Ghani has in recent months been blunt in calling on Pakistan to take the Taliban head on instead of trying to bring it to peace talks.

In the meantime, India started consolidating its own diplomatic position, putting further pressure on Pakistan. Along with the Afghanistan-India-U.S. trilateral, New Delhi is also holding trilateral discussions with Afghanistan and Iran, where projects such as Chabahar Port have been on the agenda. These trilateral discussions are also aimed at another partnership in the region, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), where Beijing is planning to invest in every vein of the Pakistani economy stretching from Gwadar Port in Balochistan to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). For India, raising the issue of Balochistan (whether an actionable policy is in place or not is a different question) and reminding Pakistan that it occupies PoK is akin to hitting two birds with one stone, but only time will tell how well prepared New Delhi is to take both of these points to the next step.

India needs to do more in response to some of Kabul’s military demands, at least those that do not require heavy weaponry transportation, such as mobile bridges, trucks, armored vehicles and even light aircraft. There is no denying that even though the U.S. and India may not converge in all aspects of their respective Afghan policies, Washington opening the door further for Indian influence creates a much bigger canvas for bilateral cooperation for the stability of Afghanistan and at the same time even countering the Pakistan-China nexus.

For example, the recently signed Indo-U.S. Logistics Embrace Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), which will allow both countries to use designated military bases for “refueling and replenishment,” comes at a time when the Indian armed forces have more and more in common with their American counterparts operationally. After the U.S., India is now the largest operator of the C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift planes. Along with this, it also operates the C-130 and will also incorporate the CH-47 Chinook and the AH-64 Apache helicopters. This arrangement can also help both countries play a greater role in Afghanistan. For the U.S., specifically, it means it can service its aircraft operating in the region at designated bases in India.

All of these diplomatic overtures seem to have paved the way for a cautious yet robust and actionable future. It is now up to New Delhi to decide how willing it is to bite into the pie being offered by both Kabul and Washington.

http://thediplomat.com/2016/09/john-kerrys-visit-gives-more-teeth-to-india-in-afghanistan/

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India makes list, plans outreach to 68 countries

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Among the first that will see visits by Ministers will be East European countries, a government official said.

Taking the Modi government’s commitment to reach out to all countries worldwide, the Ministry of External Affairs has issued letters to various Ministers “assigning” them dozens of specific countries to engage with, The Hindu has learnt.

In a letter, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, “By 2016-end, we will not leave any country where Indian Ministers have not gone.”

She said the Ministry had identified 68 countries which had not witnessed Ministerial-level visits from India.

Among the first that will see visits by Ministers will be East European countries, a government official said.

Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will be visiting Estonia and Latvia, while Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be going to Hungary and Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu to Bosnia. Mr. Prasad will land in Estonia on Sunday.

Conversations begin with visits, says MEA

As part of the Modi government’s plan to expand its diplomatic outreach to all countries, Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will be visiting Estonia and Latvia, while Home Ministry Rajnath Singh will be going to Hungary and Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu to Bosnia.

Confirming that Mr. Prasad will be arriving in Estonia on Sunday, Viljar Lubi, former Estonian Ambassador to India, told The Hindu, “We have never hosted Indian Ministers before…President, PM or MEA. Mr. Prasad’s visit is very important as IT has been a field of cooperation. Minister Prasad and PM Modi have been kind enough to praise Estonian e-governance and cyber security capabilities. This visit will definitely take this cooperation even closer.”

In the letters, the Ministry of External Affairs has issued to various Ministers “assigning” them dozens of specific countries to engage with, Ms. Sushma Swaraj states that all the meetings will be arranged for by the ambassadors of the respective countries. In case a Minister has some “personal work” or is interested in visiting certain places in those countries, the same will be included in their schedule.

Preparations underway

The preparations to complete the visits before the given deadline of December 2016 are under way. The specific countries assigned to various Ministers, a government official said, “are based on how the visits can enhance our diplomatic relations and strengthen cooperation in the field that the Minister is in charge of.”

Replying to a query from The Hindu, an MEA spokesperson said, “This is part of the Government’s aim of ensuring ‘sampark’ and ‘samvad’, contact and dialogue with all countries of the world. The idea is to reach those countries where not even a Ministerial visit has taken place for the last two years. After all, conversations start happening once a visit takes place and those conversations then lead to cooperation.”

Last year, the government had engaged with 101 countries, and by June, this year, this number had increased to as much as 140.

 

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India eyes role for itself at Oman's strategic Duqm port

NEW DELHI: After securing its presence in Iran's Chabahar port key gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, India is now eyeing for a role at Oman's strategically located Duqm Port that will enable Delhi to expand its economic presence in the hydrocarbon rich West Asia and allow Indian Navy greater role in the region.

The Sultanate of Oman is currently developing Duqm port along with Special Economic Zone as a regional economic hub. People familiar with the developments indicated to ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...ofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

 

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Boost ties with Vietnam to tame the belligerent dragon


As China bolsters its defence potential on India’s borders, New Delhi appears to be significantly, though belatedly, responding to the build-up. It has been recognised over the past decade that we need army strike formations on our borders with China to respond effectively to any cross-border adventurism. But implementation of the raising of a Strike Corps was earlier moving at a snail’s pace. Likewise, it is now recognised that we made a fatal mistake in 1962 by not using air power to counter Chinese aggression. Moreover, our forces on the borders have lacked mobility and firepower, while the Chinese have far better roads and communications.

These deficiencies are being rectified with the deployment of tanks and acquisition of light, mountain artillery from the US, together with some progress in raising a Strike Corps. But what seems to have raised blood pressures across China is the positioning of frontline Sukhoi 30 aircraft in new border air bases, along with moves to deploy BrahMos cruise missiles, which can attack border infrastructure inside Tibet. China has chosen to dictate to us what our troop deployments should be by warnings from its military that current moves could have an adverse bearing on peace and stability along the borders. China wishes to resort to psychological warfare and pre-empt any move that could deter aggression from Tibet and Xinjiang, bordering India.

The Chinese arrogance coincides with its stepped-up military ties with Pakistan, now directed at India. The most dangerous dimensions lie on the northern and southern ends of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ Project in Pakistan. Its Silk Road Economic Belt comprises a road network across Central Asia and through Pakistan. This belt reaches the Indian Ocean at the Port of Gwadar in Balochistan. Gwadar becomes the point where the Chinese Silk Road Economic Belt and its Maritime Silk Route, across the Indian Ocean, meet. It is this port that makes Balochistan and the Baloch freedom struggle so important for India. The Baloch hate the Punjabi Pak Army and its Chinese backers equally.

The belt is complemented by a fibre optic link, estimated to cost $44 million, connecting the headquarters of China’s Western Theatre Command in Kashgar with the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The two armies thus have a secure communications link, ready for use in times of conflict with India. China is providing Pak navy with a dozen submarines and frigates, which will reinforce its own navy in developing the potential to block the sea routes of India to the Persian Gulf, from where we get around 75 per cent of our imported energy needs. It is this tie-up that leads to China blocking India’s NSG membership and opposing any action being taken by the UN Security Council against Pak-based terrorist groups.

PM Narendra Modi has had a busy diplomatic schedule, including a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China. He will be meeting President Xi again at the BRICS-BIMSTEC Summit in Goa. He pointedly visited Vietnam en route to China and significantly expanded military cooperation with it by extending a $500 million credit for purchase of equipment and enhancing satellite links, which would boost Vietnam’s defence intelligence capabilities.

Modi also assured Vietnam of India’s commitment to off-shore oil exploration contracts to which China has objected. One hopes this will lead to ending our inhibitions on supplying BrahMos to Vietnam. We would, only then, be regarded as a meaningful and serious player capable of impacting on the existing balance of power in the South China Sea.

The writer is a former diplomat

http://www.newindianexpress.com/mag...igerent-dragon/2016/09/10/article3616483.ece1

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Government bridging gap with West Asia

PM Narendra Modi in a meeting with the Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
HIGHLIGHTS

• Narendra Modi has travelled to UAE, Qatar, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
• Sushma Swaraj has touched down in Bahrain, Israel and UAE.
• In the coming months, India will play host to leaders from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran.

NEW DELHI: In one week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held two important bilateral meetings on the sidelines of G-20 summit, with Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. And that was after he delayed his departure from Delhi enough to be able to meet with Gen Abdul Fattah el Sisi and sign a dozen agreements.

In the past year, the Modi government has virtually plastered itself across the Gulf and Middle East. Modi himself has travelled to UAE, Qatar, Iran and Saudi Arabia. President Pranab Mukherjee became the first Indian president to travel to Israel, Palestine and Jordan, while Sushma Swaraj has touched down in Bahrain, Israel and UAE. Other cabinet ministers have done their bit while NSA, Ajit Doval, flies under the radar but is working on security relationships across the region.

This week it was the turn of minister of state MJ Akbar to engage the Iranian leadership, after visiting Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, while VK Singh has been helming government's diaspora outreach and mass evacuations from the region's troubled spots.

In the coming months, India will play host to leaders from UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Iran from the Gulf region, while president of Israel, Reuven Rivlin is expected to return Mukherjee's visit. In 2017, India and Israel will celebrate 25 years together, expect a top level visit either by Modi or Netanyahu -- and this after both leaders have met twice already.

India's interests in the region are evident, spanning opportunities in energy (over 50 per cent of oil and 85 per cent of gas), trade and diaspora to challenges of terrorism and radicalization, India's infamous "Hormuz dilemma" (choking off the Straits of Hormuz would knock off India's oil supplies, thereby a strategic vulnerability) and the Pakistan obstacle.

The Asia to India's west has been a challenge to Indian foreign policy. Pakistan and Afghanistan have sucked the energy out of India's outreach to the region, while unhelpful OIC resolutions against India have frozen MEA interest. As the Middle East and the Levant collapsed in a heap of terror and sectarian wars in the past few years, a perplexed India again stayed out, despite the previous Manmohan Singh government coining a "Look West" strategy in 2005.

But in 2016, the outlook is different. The challenges remain, but India appears more able to exploit opportunities presented by regional and international developments to advance its interests. A growing Indian economy, depressed oil prices and a world economy made it more attractive as an economic destination.

Modi used a rash of high voltage engagement with Gulf leaders to court investment, while demonstrating an interest in ironing out the glitches in the Indian system. In one year, investments from UAE jumped by $1 billion, even though trade came down. The growth of IS has highlighted the need for India's security system to stay involved in the region as it seeks to keep a handle on terrorism and radicalization at home. As Yemen, Iraq and Libya showed, India also needs to build the capabilities to evacuate thousands of distressed citizens at a moment's notice.

On the economic front, the government has set up an inter-agency monitoring system including MEA and FIPB to facilitate and help overseas investments, iron out systemic problems etc. India is offering oilfields to international bidders from the region, while Saudi Arabia's Aramco has indicated it wants a big bang entry into the Indian energy sector in both upstream and downstream projects. Top government sources said they have short-listed projects in energy and infrastructure sectors for companies from Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia, which will be flagged by Nitin Gadkari when he visits UAE in October. If the Gulf region is important for India's energy security, India has told these countries it is open to being an indispensable partner for their food security, something flagged by Modi to the Saudi prince and will be re-emphasised by MJ Akbar in Saudi Arabia and UAE in October.

As part of the new policy, MEA is taking a closer look at its envoys in these countries, sources said government might look for attributes like ability to advance economic and security interests, which could even entail a reshuffle in the region.

It is in the security and defence areas that opportunities abound, India has security pacts with UAE, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In counter-terrorism and intelligence, the tip of the iceberg is the repatriation of terror suspects to India and sanctions on Pakistani terror outfits by the Saudis. India wants to move to the next level by holding military exercises with these countries, much like what they do in the east.

Further down the road, India will be looking for an exclusive naval base either in the Horn of Africa or in the Gulf. On a political level, India wants to constrain Pakistan's operating space in this region, by pushing the boundaries of engagement with countries where Pakistan used to be the natural security partner.

Interestingly, as India deepens its involvement in this region, it has to cleave a tighter balancing act. The wild cards here being Iran and Israel. Iran is a natural partner, and Israel has become among India's top defense and security partners worldwide, enjoying the trust and confidence of the Indian system in a way that is unmatched even by the Americans.

 

[sorcerer]

India, Russia defence talks make sense

It did not make much difference but to keep the Indian rulers in good humour, the Obama administration made a departure from its past practice and modified the military logistics agreement, Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) to Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). The USA has a standard draft text of military logistics agreement to be signed by the countries. Since the Obama administration badly needed on their side and was also aware of the criticism Narendra Modi and his government will have to face for allying with the US, the standard draft was replaced by a new summary text.

Obviously India preferring to ignore its new friend and rearing to sign a defence deal worth millions of dollars with Russia during the summit level meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled to take place in October in Goa is significant. The deals that are to be signed include purchase of S-400 air defense missile system, IL-78 multi-role tanker transport by India and the joint upgrading of the SU30MKI and Kamov 28. Naturally the question of what made India look towards Russia arises.

Nevertheless an insight into the recent developments will make it explicit that four factors prevailed upon the Modi government to look for alternate. First, while US was unwilling to offer help to India in nuclear propulsion for the proposed construction of its largest-ever warship, the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier INS Vishal, last week, a Russian delegation visiting New Delhi offered the Indian Navy Russia’s latest supercarrier design, dubbed Project 23000E or Shtorm (Storm). A Russian diplomat based in India confirmed that an offer has been made. This 65,000-ton supercarrier, the second ship of the Vikrant-class, will feature “significant design changes from the lead vessel, the INS Vikrant, including possible nuclear propulsion and Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) and Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems (EMALS).


India already operates a nuclear-powered Akula-II submarine christened INS Chakra, which was acquired on a 10-year lease from Russia in April 2012 under a $900 million deal inked earlier. Major defence deals with Russia, ranging from the Rs 39,000 crore acquisition of five S-400 Triumf advanced air defence missile systems to the $1.5 billion lease of a second nuclear-powered submarine, are also in the offing.

Secondly, the Modi government is not sure of the approach and attitude of the new US President towards India. Though Obama maintained a friendly relation with Modi, he did not persuade the American Senate to recognise India as a “global strategic and defence partner” of the US. It is not yet clear whether Obama really intended to confer this privilege on India.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to a joint session of Congress, top Republican senator John McCain had moved an amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA-17) which if passed would have recognised India as a global strategic and defence partner. But it could not get through. McCain had expressed disappointment. What USA did was to acknowledge India as a “major defence partner” through a joint statement issued after Modi held talks with Obama which supported defence-related trade and technology. In fact Modi had expressed surprise as to why the US Senate failed to recognise India as a “global strategic and defence partner”.

Yet another factor that appears to have prevailed upon the Modi government to make a tactical shift in its policy towards USA has been the increasing say of Russia in the global affair. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump only a week back vowed to seek better relations with China and Russia if elected. He also announced that he would make U.S. allies bear more of the financial burden for their defense. Trump, a bitter critic of Barack Obama’s foreign policy, accuses him of letting China take advantage of the USA. He pledged to “shake the rust off America’s foreign policy.” For Trump “an easing of tensions with Russia from a position of strength” is possible.

Meanwhile Russia has been trying to recover its friendship with China. Its joint military exercises in the East China Sea are a clear show of strength against USA and Japan. The US sanctions have in fact upgraded China’s importance to Russia. Closer ties between Moscow and Beijing have been expected long before the Ukraine crisis. A new foreign policy concept published by the Russian government in 2013 noted the importance of friendly relations with China and India, and Russia and China have often joined together to oppose the western members of the United Nations Security Council.

With a loosening grip over the Western market, Russia is slowly picking up its own pivot towards the East, drawing closer than ever to China and finding new friends like Pakistan. Recently Moscow closed a landmark military deal with Islamabad – the first in many decades – while its relationship with Beijing continues to develop.

Back home, the peoples’ perception towards USA might have played a major role in making the Modi government look towards Russia. A vast section of the Indians feel that USA has been treating properly. The Modi government has been simply acting on the advice and suggestions of the Obama administration, which mostly are against Indian interests.

Though US military company has agreed to produce aircraft F 16 under make in India programme, the fact remains that Russia is the first country to have agreed to take the initiative under the “Make in India” umbrella in two key strategic sectors — nuclear and defence. This move underlines that Russia has confidence in India’s economy.

On September 13, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin will be visiting India to hold the intergovernmental committee on technical and economic cooperation. This will also pave the way for the bilateral meeting between both leaders. Modi and Putin will be holding their bilateral meeting on October 15 in Goa on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. India and Russia are also expected to discuss the expansion of the civil nuclear cooperation between them. Russia kept its promise and on August 10, Modi and Putin inaugurated, through video conference, the Kudankulam Unit 1, which is a 1,000 MWt power plant.


Both sides are also expected to sign an agreement on the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project or the Perspective Multirole Fighter (PMF). The talks for the project were revived earlier this year. It took a back seat when India opted for the French Rafale fighter jets. The final R&D contract for the FGFA was on hold till now despite the two countries having first inked an inter-governmental agreement in 2007.

Russian-Indian cooperation in the defence sector is not just of “seller-buyer” but works on complex joint development projects with participation of Indian public and private companies, and licensed production in India. It is also encouraging that India and Russia agreed to strengthen the defense partnership in line with the “Make in India” programme.

http://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/india-russia-defence-talks-make-sense-arun-srivastava/924697

 

[sorcerer]

Post Asean summit, India is ready to project its naval presence in the Asia-Pacific region
Seema Guha Sep 11, 2016 14:56 IST

India will complete 25 years of dialogue partnership with the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), a thriving economic bloc, next year. Trade with Asean nations is gathering momentum at over 76 billion annually and is expected to gather steam in the coming year. Asean is however, not just trading group, regional security is also an important aspect of the partnership. It is here that India needs to do so much more. Asean is looking for greater Indian maritime presence in the region. Here, India has been somewhat lax but under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is ready to do its part. The Indian Navy is now preparing to project its presence not just in the Indian Ocean, but beyond to the Pacific and the Gulf of Aden. The Navy is in the process of modernising and adding to its fleet.

Asean nations gain from trade with China but worried about its aggressive claims

Though Asean has gained tremendously by trading with China, the smaller nations are increasingly worried about China’s overpowering presence in the region. China is not just an economic power but also a formidable military power now. Beijing has territorial disputes with Vietnam, Taiwan, Phillipines, Malaysia and Brunei, and is ready to use its muscle power to get its way. This is making much of Asia nervous. Even countries that have no territorial disputes with China, are wary of conflicts which could disturb the free flow of goods in the Pacific. Trade flowing through the Asia Pacific sea lanes amounts to over five trillion dollars annually and is likely to increase in future.


India and Asean security

Asean nations have been privately urging New Delhi to do so for several years. Delhi under the UPA did take a few steps, especially with Vietnam, but backed off from doing more. Moreover, the second term of the UPA government was spent on domestic firefighting with little time for anything else.

Now, as India is in the process of building up its naval capabilities, it is also willing to play a much larger role in the region, nor is the NDA shy of having closer defence ties with the US. The signing of the logistics agreement is the first step towards a closer relationship. And more are in the works. In fact, it was during President George Bush’s tenure that Washington began thinking of promoting India to balance out China in the Asia-Pacific region. The Obama administration followed Bush in this.

The Indian Navy today is much more active. India’s maritime diplomacy has taken off in a major way. Since last September, naval ships have visited 50 ports across Europe, Asia and Africa. Among the countries in Europe were UK, France, Italy, Spain, in West Asia and North Africa, it was Turkey, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles as well as Iran in the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia, UAE, China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Vietnam, Cambodia. India has also held bilateral exercises with 10 countries in the last year.

What worries China most is India’s maritime cooperation with the US. India-US-Japan now conduct joint naval exercises. Japan. which was kept out after Chinese protests, will now be a permanent invitee. New Delhi is also keen to build defence ties with its ocean neighbours. The Prime Minister’s visit to Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka in July 2015 was part of that effort. India also sold a war ship, Barracudda, to Seychelles in 2014. While the UPA government was over cautious in asserting India’s maritime presence, the Modi government is ready to take on a greater responsibility for itself in the neighbourhood. Asian nations have privately been asking India to be a part of the future defence architecture of the Asia-Pacific region. While agreeing in principle, the UPA had not got down to acting on its commitments. With Modi it is clear that India will want to play a larger role, not just in its vicinity but beyond.

China uneasy about India-US defence cooperation

China’s concern is that India is closing ranks with not just Japan but the US, which under President Barack Obama had already announced its pivot to Asia policy. When Barack Obama visited India in 2015, India and US had put out a joint statement on the freedom of navigation and the need to resolve disputes in the South China Sea by talks, keeping in mind the UN convention on the freedom of navigation. Since then, India has been regularly speaking out on the need for all nations to abide by international conventions.

The security situation has also changed in India’s neighbourhood. Ties between India and Pakistan has dipped to a new low since the Pathankot attack brought peace moves to a halt. China, which for a brief period, adopted a neutral position on India-Pakistan issues, has now gone back to the old days.

Beijing’s refusal to endorse India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), its refusal to have sanctions against the Jaish leader, and promotion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has irked New Delhi. Complaining about infrastructure projects in POK is not just taking on Pakistan, but ally China as well. In such circumstances India will not hesitate to circle the Chinese periphery, much as China is doing across South Asia.

India sewing up defence cooperation in the region

Modi further cemented India’s ties with Vietnam during his recent visit. He announced an additional defence package of $500 million, besides the earlier $100 million. With an Indian company building patrol boats for Vietnam, India in also involved in oil and gas exploration in that country. Delhi is now planning to set up a satellite tracking and imaging centre in southern Vietnam that will give Hanoi access to pictures from Indian earth observation satellites. The project will take some years to build but the process has begun.While this will give vital inputs for Vietnam's agriculture, it can also help track Chinese movement in the South China Sea.

India’s maritime diplomacy has taken off in a major way. Since last September, naval ships have visited 50 ports across Europe, Asia and Africa.

America’s pivot to Asia was in response to China’s looming presence in the Pacific. The Americans are eager for India to pull its weight in the region. When Hillary Clinton was last in India as secretary of state, she said at a lecture in Chennai that India needs to also take in more responsibility for peace and stability in the Asian region. Admiral Harris Commander of the US Pacific Command at the Raisina Dialogue in March 2016 spoke about joint patrolling with India.

"As India takes a leading role as a world power, military operations with other nations will undoubtedly become routine… In the not too distant future, American and Indian Navy vessels steaming together will become a common and welcome sight throughout Indo-Asia-Pacific waters, as we work together to maintain freedom of the seas for all nations.’’

India's defence ministry immediately denied such a move. During John Kerry’s recent visit, he made the same point of a future where the Indian and US navies patrol the sea lanes "side by side". He said it during an interaction with IIT students. But now the possibility of such a role in the future does not seem far fetched.

http://www.firstpost.com/world/post...sence-in-the-asia-pacific-region-2999790.html

 

[sorcerer]

Japan-India defence cooperation aimed at China disgraceful: Beijing

Highlights

• China said it would consider such a move "disgraceful" if it is aimed at pressuring Beijing over the disputed South China Sea issue.
• Japan has planned to sell search and rescue aircraft to India at a lower cost to strengthen security cooperation.

BEIJING: Reacting angrily to a report that Japan plans to sell search and rescue aircraft+ to India at a lower cost, China on Tuesday said it would consider such a move "disgraceful" if it is aimed at pressuring Beijing over the disputed South China Sea issue.

"I have noted this report. We hold no objection to normal state to state cooperation including defence cooperation," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told media briefing here today.

"But if the report is true that if someone is making unrighteous move then this is very disgraceful," she said replying to a question that Tokyo plans sell $1.6 billion worth of Shinmaywa US-2+ search and rescue aircraft to India at cheaper rates to strengthen security cooperation with New Delhi.



Asked to elaborate on why China regards this sale of weapons disgraceful, Hua said "we hold no objection to state to state cooperation including defence cooperation as long is such cooperation is normal".

"But as reported that the Japanese government is to cut the price to sell weapons to India with an aim to pressurise China on the South China Sea+ issue and such attempt is targeted at China. If such a report is true then we don't think the purpose such cooperation is righteous".

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-disgraceful-Beijing/articleshow/54311005.cms


----------

so what is china-pak relation...DISGRACEFUL AND DISGUSTING for a nation like china!!


"Normal" What is china's version of NORMAL?
Arming terrorist state like pakistan and selling nukes to NoKo.

Objection from china!! As if Indian Foreign diplomacy is based on chinese whims and cries.

 

[sorcerer]

Russian shipbuilder mulls manufacturing hub in Visakhapatnam


VISAKHAPATNAM: The United Shipbuilding Corporation of Russia, the fifth biggest shipbuilders in the world with a turnover of 5 billion US dollars, is considering Visakhapatnam for making its manufacturing hub.

Alexey L Rakhmanov, president of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, during a brief interaction with the media after the inaugural of the two-day dialogue between India and Russian defence industries here on Wednesday said that the company had found Andhra Pradesh in tune with its needs. “However, there is a long way to go before the final decision is taken,” he said.

Acknowledging the potential of India, particularly Andhra Pradesh in defence manufacturing sector, more so for naval needs, given its strategic location, Rakhmanov said they are contemplating more ties between Indian and Russian institutes of higher education, so that the human resources could be built for the benefit of the defence manufacturing sector.

Earlier during his presentation at the inaugural, he said that the proposed manufacturing hub in India could become their global production unit.

“Russian shipbuilding firms are inclined for setting up joint ventures with Indian firms as part of the Indigenization of defence manufacturing equipment,” he said while underlining the vast scope for production of commercial vessels and lauded the emphasis being given by the AP government on port-based development and inland waterways.

Speaking on the occasion, Krishna Kishore, CEO of Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board said Andhra Pradesh offers a perfect eco-system for defence manufacturing equipment, as it is not only stands second in the ease of doing business in India, but has the second largest sea coast, six ports and eight more in the offing, six airports with another six under proposal.

Kartikeya Misra, director of the state industries and commerce department said Indian defence needs are met by imports up to 60 per cent. “It gives a good opportunity for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to invest in India, particularly Andhra Pradesh.”

According to him, Indian Navy would need 13-15 sea vessels, but existing shipyards in the country can build five vessels at the most, which in turn gives an opportunity for the ship builders of Russia to invest in the country. “It’s a win-win situation for all,” he said.Rear Admiral LV Sarat Babu, chairman of Hindustan Shipyard Limited said shipbuilding is critical to maritime nation like India for both its defence capabilities and for its economic prosperity.

“Investment in shipbuilding will trigger investment in other allied sectors that will be nearly 10 times more. Low labour cost is one of the advantages of India,” he pointed out.

Vice-Admiral HCS Bisht, flag officer commanding-in-chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) recalled the strong ties between India and Russia not only in defence but also in other sctors.

“In fact, role of Russia is very much there in the growth story of Vizag,” he said
http://www.newindianexpress.com/sta...n-Visakhapatnam/2016/09/14/article3620298.ece

 

[DingDong]

India needs to reduce dependence on Islamic Oil. Until and unless that happens we won't be able to follow a really "independent" and "assertive" foreign policy.

BTW, I liked the way our government showed middle finger to the UN Human Rights chief, a Saudi troll.

India Snubs UN Rights Chief On Kashmir Violence, Says No Comparison With PoK

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India needs to reduce dependence on Islamic Oil.

Or make them dependent on us. Probably, even with our overseas military bases.:biggrin2:
We must be acting towards the west like east.
http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/...-and-clear-outreach.75869/page-3#post-1201073

 

[DingDong]

Read something interesting on WIKIPEDIA, found this worth sharing:

If the BBC survey is to be believed then More Nigerians and Russians than Indians think positively about India .

Supporters of Israel on this forum must take notice . Germany is an interesting case.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Read something interesting on WIKIPEDIA, found this worth sharing:

If the BBC survey is to be believed then More Nigerians and Russians than Indians think positively about India .

Supporters of Israel on this forum must take notice . Germany is an interesting case.


View attachment 10227

That's not only from these reports, we have earlier discussed many things over it on many threads.
There's a restaurant in India ran by Israeli origin Jews which only serves whites.

 

[Kshatriya87]

The unity of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over Kashmir too has been broken. Syria recently rejected the OIC line favouring Pakistan and publicly declared that India should solve "Kashmir in any way it wants".

http://www.dailyo.in/politics/g20-j...-sea-gilgit-baltistan-cpec/story/1/12824.html

This is awesome. porkistan ki toh jal gayi hogi. Where is the islamic biradari now?

 

[Kshatriya87]

Pakistan has committed 10,000 security personnel to guard the corridor in Balochistan to allay Chinese fears of terror attacks by the Taliban.

Over 8,100 of these men are already in place guarding an estimated 9,000 Chinese working on CPEC projects in Balochistan.


http://www.dailyo.in/politics/g20-j...-sea-gilgit-baltistan-cpec/story/1/12824.html

The number is now around 15000. That's almost twice as much security personnel as the working chinese personnel.