FOREIGN POLICY: New, Strong and Clear Outreach

[sorcerer]

Government plans waterway freight corridor via Bangladesh to northeastern states

NEW DELHI: The government is working on a plan to set up a waterway freight corridor to connect the mainland with the northeastern states via Bangladesh at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore.

The move would substantially reduce the time taken to transport goods to the eight northeastern states and costs.

The proposed 900-km waterway would be used to transport freight from the northern and eastern states to the northeast and would start near Haldia in West Bengal, go to the Sundarbans, merge into the Padma river in Bangladesh and then join up with the Brahmaputra in Assam.

“We are working on the details of the project. It would substantially improve connectivity between the mainland states and northeast. The cost of freight transportation would come down substantially,” shipping secretary Gopal Krishna told ET.

Currently, highway connectivity to the northeastern states is patchy and transportation of goods by road entails a high cost and takes time. According to the ministry’s estimate, the waterway could help reduce the cost of transportation by about 70%.

The government is already developing a waterway along the Ganga river between Haldia and Allahabad (1,620 km) at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore. This link will also be utilised for trade between India and Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh share a 4,095-km border, of which 1,116 km is along rivers. Krishna said Bangladesh plans to use Indian ports as transhipment hubs.

“Instead of using Colombo or Singapore as a transhipment hub, Bangladesh is now looking at India. Our own container traffic moving to Colombo has come down as transhipment is now happening at our ports,” he said.

The shipping ministry recently allowed foreign vessel operators to transport containerised cargo meant for import or export within ports located in Indian territory to ensure cargo doesn’t land up in foreign hubs such as Singapore and Colombo.

He said that in the long term, India plans to develop two ports each on the west and east coasts as transhipment hubs.




Read more at:
//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/65927538.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

 

[sorcerer]

How India has successfully avoided falling for Pakistani overtures

Cleaning up its image by extending an olive branch to India, and then using this “moderate” diplomatic turn to ease the harsh American cutoff of military aid and receive a $12 billion economic bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), are the unstated objectives guiding Pakistan’s rhetorical eagerness for peace.

Pakistan is in desperate economic straits and the military appears to be goading Imran to opportunistically play nice as a responsible actor before the international community out of duress rather than any liberal transformation in its foreign policy.

Long-time watchers of the subcontinent can recall several earlier instances where the hidden “foreign hand” either directly or indirectly pushed Pakistan into rapprochement or compromise with India.

Read more at:
//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/65916228.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

 

[sorcerer]

Indian Navy, US Navy were on standby at Maldives in case elections were rigged: Subramanian Swamy

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday lashed out at the Indian ambassador to Maldives after the opposition won the elections to form the new government in the island nation.

"After Indian Ambassador to Maldive made the silly statement that my threat was my personal opinion, the Maldive dictator could not relax because because Indian Navy moved several ships into position. The US also moved standby naval forces. Who did it? Namo," Swamy tweeted.

Last month, Swamy had said that if the elections in Maldives were rigged, then India would invade that nation - a statement that did not go down too well with Male, who then summoned the Indian Ambassador to that country. The ambassador, however, at the time, said that it was Swamy's personal opinion.

Maldives opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has won the island nation's presidential election, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter on Monday.

The ministry cited provisional figures from the country's Elections Commission showing Solih winning by a margin of 16.7 percent over incumbent Abdulla Yameen in Sunday's election.

"Voting proceeded smoothly and peacefully, with no reported incidents," the foreign ministry said. "No major issues were reported in the vote counting process as well as with the voters list, which will affect the results."

While Solih received 134,616 votes, Yameen received 96,132 votes, it said.

Of 262,135 eligible voters in this election, 233,877 voters cast their votes at the 472 ballot boxes placed in the Maldives and in four countries abroad, the ministry said, adding that voter turnout was 89.2 percent.

It said that the Elections Commission would announce the official results by September 30.

This was the third Presidential election held in the Maldives, following the adoption of the 2008 Constitution, which paved the way for multi-party democracy in the Maldives. The President and Vice-President, elected today, are expected to* be sworn in on 17 November 2018," it added.

Yameen has faced criticism for jailing opponents in Maldives, popular with tourists and a key state in the battle for influence between India and China in south Asia.

Solih, known popularly as Ibu, claimed victory and called on Yameen to concede.

"The message is loud and clear. The people of Maldives want change, peace and justice," Solih told reporters in the capital Male.

"I would like to call on President Yameen to accept the will of the people and begin a smooth transition of power as per the constitution," he said.

Ibrahim Shihab, a spokesman for the President's Office, declined to comment on the election result when contacted by Reuters.

Mohamed Shainee, the minister of fisheries in Yameen's government, said on Twitter it was "the beginning of a new chapter" for the country.

"Forgive our wrongdoings, give strength to our leaders to resist the temptation to disbelieve," he said.

The United States and India both congratulated the Maldives on its peaceful elections and noted that it appeared likely Solih's opposition coalition had won.

"We urge calm and respect for the will of the people as the election process concludes," US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

The Muslim-majority nation has become a theatre of rivalry between its traditional partner, India, and China, which has backed Yameen's infrastructure drive and prompted concern in the West about Beijing's increasing influence.

Yameen's government has jailed many of his main rivals, including former president and his half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on charges ranging from terrorism to corruption

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/repo...ections-were-rigged-subramanian-swamy-2667249

 

[binayak95]

This loose cannon needs to be brought to heel and right fast.

Indian Navy, US Navy were on standby at Maldives in case elections were rigged: Subramanian Swamy

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday lashed out at the Indian ambassador to Maldives after the opposition won the elections to form the new government in the island nation.

"After Indian Ambassador to Maldive made the silly statement that my threat was my personal opinion, the Maldive dictator could not relax because because Indian Navy moved several ships into position. The US also moved standby naval forces. Who did it? Namo," Swamy tweeted.

Last month, Swamy had said that if the elections in Maldives were rigged, then India would invade that nation - a statement that did not go down too well with Male, who then summoned the Indian Ambassador to that country. The ambassador, however, at the time, said that it was Swamy's personal opinion.

Maldives opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has won the island nation's presidential election, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter on Monday.

The ministry cited provisional figures from the country's Elections Commission showing Solih winning by a margin of 16.7 percent over incumbent Abdulla Yameen in Sunday's election.

"Voting proceeded smoothly and peacefully, with no reported incidents," the foreign ministry said. "No major issues were reported in the vote counting process as well as with the voters list, which will affect the results."

While Solih received 134,616 votes, Yameen received 96,132 votes, it said.

Of 262,135 eligible voters in this election, 233,877 voters cast their votes at the 472 ballot boxes placed in the Maldives and in four countries abroad, the ministry said, adding that voter turnout was 89.2 percent.

It said that the Elections Commission would announce the official results by September 30.

This was the third Presidential election held in the Maldives, following the adoption of the 2008 Constitution, which paved the way for multi-party democracy in the Maldives. The President and Vice-President, elected today, are expected to* be sworn in on 17 November 2018," it added.

Yameen has faced criticism for jailing opponents in Maldives, popular with tourists and a key state in the battle for influence between India and China in south Asia.

Solih, known popularly as Ibu, claimed victory and called on Yameen to concede.

"The message is loud and clear. The people of Maldives want change, peace and justice," Solih told reporters in the capital Male.

"I would like to call on President Yameen to accept the will of the people and begin a smooth transition of power as per the constitution," he said.

Ibrahim Shihab, a spokesman for the President's Office, declined to comment on the election result when contacted by Reuters.

Mohamed Shainee, the minister of fisheries in Yameen's government, said on Twitter it was "the beginning of a new chapter" for the country.

"Forgive our wrongdoings, give strength to our leaders to resist the temptation to disbelieve," he said.

The United States and India both congratulated the Maldives on its peaceful elections and noted that it appeared likely Solih's opposition coalition had won.

"We urge calm and respect for the will of the people as the election process concludes," US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

The Muslim-majority nation has become a theatre of rivalry between its traditional partner, India, and China, which has backed Yameen's infrastructure drive and prompted concern in the West about Beijing's increasing influence.

Yameen's government has jailed many of his main rivals, including former president and his half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on charges ranging from terrorism to corruption

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/repo...ections-were-rigged-subramanian-swamy-2667249

 

[sorcerer]

This loose cannon needs to be brought to heel and right fast.

Some times loose canons are necessary

 

[sorcerer]

Nirmala Sitharaman likely to meet French defence minister next month

.....

“Maritime security in the Indian Ocean has become a prime area of Indo-French strategic cooperation. The western Indian Ocean is outside the jurisdiction of the US Indo-Pacific Command which is responsible for implementing the Indo-US joint strategic vision for the Indo-Pacific region. This strategic gap is being filled in by Indo-French joint strategic vision for the Indian Ocean region and the logistics agreement signed between the two countries on the pattern of LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) with the US. France is an Indian Ocean power with permanent naval presence in the western Indian Ocean and keeps an eye on maritime security in the Madagascar channel. China’s inroads into Africa is a subject of concern to both countries. France is therefore a credible partner. Very specific and detailed understandings have been reached between the two countries on what the responsibilities of each of them will be in the area of maritime security,” said Kanwal Sibal, former foreign secretary and former Ambassador to France.

...
Defence minister Sitharaman will also discuss military collaboration with Indian Defence PSUs with her counterpart as France is at the core of “Make in India” initiative. For instance, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is working with Dassault Aviation for upgrades of Mirage-2000 fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF), MDL is working with DCNS for Scorpene independent air propulsion submarines for the Indian Navy and Turbomeca engines are at the heart of indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALF) project India is looking towards acquiring Fench Safran jet engines for its Light Combat Aircraft project but the deal is still work under progress and the two defence ministers will be discussing the way forward.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...-next-month/story-dCHSL98lfCVAAIAuIN9gCI.html

 

[Kshatriya87]

Indian Navy, US Navy were on standby at Maldives in case elections were rigged: Subramanian Swamy

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday lashed out at the Indian ambassador to Maldives after the opposition won the elections to form the new government in the island nation.

"After Indian Ambassador to Maldive made the silly statement that my threat was my personal opinion, the Maldive dictator could not relax because because Indian Navy moved several ships into position. The US also moved standby naval forces. Who did it? Namo," Swamy tweeted.

Last month, Swamy had said that if the elections in Maldives were rigged, then India would invade that nation - a statement that did not go down too well with Male, who then summoned the Indian Ambassador to that country. The ambassador, however, at the time, said that it was Swamy's personal opinion.

Maldives opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has won the island nation's presidential election, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter on Monday.

The ministry cited provisional figures from the country's Elections Commission showing Solih winning by a margin of 16.7 percent over incumbent Abdulla Yameen in Sunday's election.

"Voting proceeded smoothly and peacefully, with no reported incidents," the foreign ministry said. "No major issues were reported in the vote counting process as well as with the voters list, which will affect the results."

While Solih received 134,616 votes, Yameen received 96,132 votes, it said.

Of 262,135 eligible voters in this election, 233,877 voters cast their votes at the 472 ballot boxes placed in the Maldives and in four countries abroad, the ministry said, adding that voter turnout was 89.2 percent.

It said that the Elections Commission would announce the official results by September 30.

This was the third Presidential election held in the Maldives, following the adoption of the 2008 Constitution, which paved the way for multi-party democracy in the Maldives. The President and Vice-President, elected today, are expected to* be sworn in on 17 November 2018," it added.

Yameen has faced criticism for jailing opponents in Maldives, popular with tourists and a key state in the battle for influence between India and China in south Asia.

Solih, known popularly as Ibu, claimed victory and called on Yameen to concede.

"The message is loud and clear. The people of Maldives want change, peace and justice," Solih told reporters in the capital Male.

"I would like to call on President Yameen to accept the will of the people and begin a smooth transition of power as per the constitution," he said.

Ibrahim Shihab, a spokesman for the President's Office, declined to comment on the election result when contacted by Reuters.

Mohamed Shainee, the minister of fisheries in Yameen's government, said on Twitter it was "the beginning of a new chapter" for the country.

"Forgive our wrongdoings, give strength to our leaders to resist the temptation to disbelieve," he said.

The United States and India both congratulated the Maldives on its peaceful elections and noted that it appeared likely Solih's opposition coalition had won.

"We urge calm and respect for the will of the people as the election process concludes," US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

The Muslim-majority nation has become a theatre of rivalry between its traditional partner, India, and China, which has backed Yameen's infrastructure drive and prompted concern in the West about Beijing's increasing influence.

Yameen's government has jailed many of his main rivals, including former president and his half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on charges ranging from terrorism to corruption

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/repo...ections-were-rigged-subramanian-swamy-2667249

Don't know if this is true. But I'm pretty sure Swamy did a great in making Yameen piss in his pants.

 

[sorcerer]

Morocco a key partner of India to fight terrorism, inks MoU for co-operation in Outer Space – see pics from the pact-signing meet

Given the geographical proximity of the Arab Kingdom to restive countries like Libya, Morocco is emerging as a key counter-terror and de-radicalisation partner for India in North Africa.
By: | New Delhi | Published: September 25, 2018 9:06 PM

In 2015 the two countries decided to elevate bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and have been working to include new areas of cooperation to the partnership.
Given the geographical proximity of the Arab Kingdom to restive countries like Libya, Morocco is emerging as a key counter-terror and de-radicalisation partner for India in North Africa. The two countries on Tuesday inked a MoU on ‘Cooperation in peaceful uses of Outer Space’. It was signed in the presence of defence minister Nirmala Sithraman and the visiting Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the National Defence Administration, Kingdom of Morocco Abdeltif Loudyi.

In 2015 the two countries decided to elevate bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and have been working to include new areas of cooperation to the partnership including space, military cooperation besides the traditional ones of fertiliser, chemicals, automobiles, renewable energy and construction.

As reported earlier “Indo-Moroccan relations have been strengthened, particularly after the historic visit of King Mohammed VI to New Delhi in October 2015 as part of the third India-Africa Forum Summit.”





MoU is signed between India and Morocco on ‘Cooperation in peaceful uses of Outer Space’ in the presence of defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the National Defence Administration, Govt of the Kingdom of Morocco Mr Abdellatif Loudiyi

Morocco, fast emerging as North Africa’s economic leader and a major source of phosphates for India, which is the largest Asian recipient of Moroccan governmental investment. The return of Morocco to the African Union in 2017 after three decades added further momentum to Africa-India relations.

https://www.financialexpress.com/de...-see-pics-from-the-pact-signing-meet/1326526/

==============
Well!
Soon India will be able to bring a whole lot of nations to support India at UN for
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism

 

[sorcerer]

Afghanistan, India, Iran, China back the idea of creating a terrorist database

Afghanistan, India, Iran and China have supported creating a joint terrorist groups database with Russia, Russian Security Council spokesman Evgeny Anoshin said on Wednesday.

According to the spokesman, the issue was addressed at the multilateral consultations on the Afghan settlement, held in Tehran where delegations from Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran and China participated.


"Participants of the meeting noted the positive significance of the database of terrorist organisations created by the Russian Federal Security Service. They stressed the importance of creating a similar base for all countries participating in today's meeting," Anoshin said.

The spokesman added that the meeting's participants "supported the initiative of Iranian colleagues to create a new mechanism at the level of security councils' secretaries, exchanged views on priority tasks in the Afghan issue.


https://www.business-standard.com/a...eating-terrorist-database-118092600561_1.html

 

[Yggdrasil]

"Participants of the meeting noted the positive significance of the database of terrorist organisations created by the Russian Federal Security Service.

I tell you, sometimes English is a funny language.

 

[sorcerer]

I tell you, sometimes English is a funny language.

Its nice, one step closer to the Indian Initiative for CCIT in UN.
Such all is needed in this game

 

[sorcerer]

Uzbek President to invite India to join Afghan Rail Project

India will be invited to help with a key rail link in Afghanistan, during the visit of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev early next week, a presidential aide told The Hindu.

The rail link of approximately 650 km, connecting the Afghan cities of Mazaar-e-Sharif and Herat, which may later be extended to Kabul, is a major project agreed to by President Ashraf Ghani and President Mirziyoyev last year, and many of the preliminary surveys for the project have already been completed.

“We support a greater presence of India in Central Asia, and hope for some benefits of that for Afghanistan. I hope that negotiations with PM Modi will open a new page in our bilateral relations,” Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs Ilhom Nematov told The Hindu during a visit to Delhi ahead of the President’s visit beginning on Sunday.

“If India would be involved in [the railway line] construction, we would welcome them because of India’s proven record and experience, and because of its contribution to bringing peace to Afghanistan,” he added, saying that Uzbekistan has an interest in open trade and connectivity routes “all the way to the Indian Ocean.”

The project, for which Uzbekistan has already committed $500 million, could become another major regional connectivity project for India, after its construction of the Zaranj-Delaram Highway in Afghanistan and the Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar, Iran.

India is also committed to building another rail route, from Chabahar to Zahedan on the Iran-Afghan border, and President Mirziyoyev is keen to join the transit trade agreement signed by India, Afghanistan and Iran.

The rail route to Herat, if extended to Kabul, would also link to India’s “air corridor”, allowing trade, especially dry fruits and agricultural produce to travel along the routes from India to Central Asia and back in much shorter time.

Uzbekistan has held talks with Iran, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and China, which is already running a rail route into Uzbekistan under the Belt and Road Initiative, for the same project in the past few months.

Making a pitch for talks between India and Pakistan, Mr. Nematov said Uzbekistan’s role in regional security is likely to grow as it will take over the Secretary Generalship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in January 2019.

“I think that SCO is a good platform for India and Pakistan to talk at and to maybe work with other countries on how to bring peace,” he told The Hindu.

President Mirziyoyev may also discuss peace efforts in Afghanistan and his offer of mediating talks between the Ghani government and the Taliban, during his visit to India.

In August, a Taliban delegation had also visited Tashkent and held talks with the President’s representative.

President Mirziyoyev is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Sunday, and will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks on Monday.

Officials said more than 30 documents and agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, including trade agreements, media and educational partnerships, and MoUs linking Andijan-Gujarat states, Samarkand-Agra and Bukhara-Hyderabad.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...-join-afghan-rail-project/article25061216.ece

 

[sorcerer]

India, Kazakhstan agree to step up military cooperation, especially in defence production

India and Kazakhstan agreed to step up military cooperation, especially in the areas of defence production, as Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met her counterpart Nurlan Yermekbayev during her three-day visit to the central Asian country. A Defence Ministry statement said this today.

During her Kazakhstan visit, which commenced on October 2, Sitharaman also met Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry Beibut Atamkulov.

They discussed a wide range of issues relating to defence and military technical cooperation and took stock of the progress of the bilateral relationship, especially in the defence sector.

The two countries had renewed the Memorandum of Cooperation on defence in January 2017. Both countries are 'strategic partners' since 2009.
Smt Nirmala Sitharaman also discussed regional developments with the Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Mr Kairat Abdrakhmanov, the statement said.

Over 200 Kazakh defence forces personnel have undergone military training in India till date. Both countries successfully conducted a company-level joint military exercise 'KAZIND-2018' in south Kazakhstan last month.

Sitharaman and Yermekbayev presided over the flag off ceremony of the Kazakhstan contingent that will join the Indian contingent at the United Nations International Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon.

The statement said the Kazakh contingent will join the Indian contingent at Lebanon by the end of this month. She also invited Yermekbayev Atamkulov to visit India and to attend Aero India 2019 to be held in Bengaluru in February 2019, the statement added.

Sitharaman also visited the National Defence University where she was shown the Indian Military Art Room (IMAR), which has been established with Indian assistance.

http://www.newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=353608

 

[sorcerer]

S-400 Defence Deal: 'CAATSA Is To Impose Costs On Russia And Not For Allies Like India', Says US

New Delhi, October 5: After India signed the long pending S-400-Triumf air defence system deals worth $5 billion with Russia today, the United States (US) has clarified that Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is framed to impose costs on Russia for its malign behaviour and to damage the military capabilities of allies.

Jinnie Lee. Spokesperson of US Embassy said, “Intent of our implementation of CAATSA is to impose costs on Russia for its malign behaviour, including by stopping the flow of money to Russia’s defence sector. CAATSA is not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners.”

Intent of our implementation of CAATSA is to impose costs on Russia for its malign behaviour,including by stopping flow of money to Russia’s defense sector.CAATSA is not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners:Jinnie Lee, Spox US Embassy

— ANI (@ani) October 5, 2018

Lee further added that the waiver authority was not for a blanket waiver, but It was transaction-specific. “There are strict criteria for considering a waiver. Waivers of CAATSA section 231 will be considered on a transaction-by-transaction basis. We cannot prejudge any sanctions decisions,” reported news agency ANI quoting the US spokesperson.

The waiver authority is not for a blanket waiver. It's transaction-specific.There are strict criteria for considering a waiver.Waivers of CAATSA section 231 will be considered on a transaction-by-transaction basis. We cannot prejudge any sanctions decisions:J Lee,Spox US Embassy

— ANI (@ani) October 5, 2018

During Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-visit to India India signed S-400 Triumf Missile deal among other deals. Putin finalised the deal expected to give a boost to the Indian defence system. Russian President Vladimir Putin was in India as part of the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit. India is also planning to buy 4 Krivak-class frigates from Russia, two of which will be built in India, which will be a $2.5 billion deal.

Since the beginning, India had clarified its stand on the S-400 deal and conveyed a stern message to the US regarding the deal. Earlier in July, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while taking a dig at the CAATSA, said that it was an American law and not the United States law. CAATSA, which came into effect in January, mandates the Donald Trump administration to punish countries and entities engaging in a significant transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.

https://www.latestly.com/india/news...not-for-allies-like-india-says-us-421613.html

 

[Kshatriya87]

India, Kazakhstan agree to step up military cooperation, especially in defence production

India and Kazakhstan agreed to step up military cooperation, especially in the areas of defence production, as Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met her counterpart Nurlan Yermekbayev during her three-day visit to the central Asian country. A Defence Ministry statement said this today.

During her Kazakhstan visit, which commenced on October 2, Sitharaman also met Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry Beibut Atamkulov.

They discussed a wide range of issues relating to defence and military technical cooperation and took stock of the progress of the bilateral relationship, especially in the defence sector.

The two countries had renewed the Memorandum of Cooperation on defence in January 2017. Both countries are 'strategic partners' since 2009.
Smt Nirmala Sitharaman also discussed regional developments with the Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Mr Kairat Abdrakhmanov, the statement said.

Over 200 Kazakh defence forces personnel have undergone military training in India till date. Both countries successfully conducted a company-level joint military exercise 'KAZIND-2018' in south Kazakhstan last month.

Sitharaman and Yermekbayev presided over the flag off ceremony of the Kazakhstan contingent that will join the Indian contingent at the United Nations International Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon.

The statement said the Kazakh contingent will join the Indian contingent at Lebanon by the end of this month. She also invited Yermekbayev Atamkulov to visit India and to attend Aero India 2019 to be held in Bengaluru in February 2019, the statement added.

Sitharaman also visited the National Defence University where she was shown the Indian Military Art Room (IMAR), which has been established with Indian assistance.

http://www.newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=353608

I believe we have an airbase in kazakhstan too.

 

[sorcerer]

India, Tajikistan collaborate in defence, investments and trade for deeper relations

Besides agreeing to further deepen their `Strategic Partnership’, by collaborating in areas of defence, trade, tourism and investments, India has offered a grant of $20 mn to Tajikistan for development projects.


Besides agreeing to further deepen their `Strategic Partnership’, by collaborating in areas of defence, trade, tourism and investments, India has offered a grant of $20 mn to Tajikistan for development projects.

At the end of discussions between President Ram Nath Kovind with his Tajikistan counterpart President Emomali Rahmon at Palace of President, the two sides inked eight MoUs in various fields including political relations, strategic research, agriculture, renewable energy, traditional medicine, space technology, youth affairs, and disaster management.

In fact Tajikistan was the first country in Central Asia to host Farkhor Air Base, making India to be the 4th country after the US, Russia and Germany to have a military base which is very close to the Afghan border. In 2002, the two sides had signed an agreement to establish India’s presence at the Farkhor Air Base. The two countries have reinforced their commitment to peace and development in neighbouring Afghanistan through an Afghan led, Afghan owned and Afghan controlled peace process.

Connectivity in the region is one of the biggest challenges India faces in expanding ties with Central Asia region. New Delhi has been talking to the countries in the region to improve both land and sea connectivity which will help n improving the trade in the region.

In a joint statement issued at the end of the meeting between the leaders of the two countries, the two sides have agreed to work together with regional partners to establish necessary transport mechanisms based on international norms.

The countries in the region have been pushing for development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) which will considerably reduce time and cost of transport of merchandise among India, Central Asia, Caucasus and CIS countries further north. According to Ambassador P Stobdan, Senior Fellow, IDSA, India has invested in INSTC and the Chabahar project in Iran which are close to becoming a reality.

While India and Tajikistan are keen to have more regular flights between the two countries, President Rahmon of Tajikistan has thanked India for the Fifth Freedom Rights granted by the Indian authorities to Tajik air operators.

Besides providing English laboratories for the Tajikistan Military, it was also agreed that India will do feasibility study of solar projects in seven villages of that country as requested by the administration.

Both leaders underscored the importance of SCO and reaffirmed commitment to working within the framework of SCO for common economic development and security. Later in the week on Wednesday, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will be travelling to that country for the SCO heads of governments meeting from Oct 11-12.

https://www.financialexpress.com/de...ments-and-trade-for-deeper-relations/1341780/

 

[sorcerer]

‘Japan keen on supplying defence equipment to India’

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-pap...efence-equipment-to-india/article25163200.ece

 

[Aaj ka hero]

‘Japan keen on supplying defence equipment to India’

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-pap...efence-equipment-to-india/article25163200.ece

There type 10 main battle tank is PERFECT.
THEIR CARGO plane that can lift 37 tons is another perfect plane.

 

[Kshatriya87]

‘Japan keen on supplying defence equipment to India’

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-pap...efence-equipment-to-india/article25163200.ece

Yeah but not ready to give us TOT for Soryu class subs. Also, japanese equipment are very freaking expensive.

 

[sorcerer]

No ties with Pakistan at India's cost, relations with New Delhi long-term: Russia

The Russian ambassador said that Russia's relations with Pakistan should not be a matter of concern for India since ties with India are of “strategic, long-term” nature, as per a report by news agency PTI. Nikolay Kudashev, the Russian envoy to India also said that the relations with Pakistan are only a way of contributing towards regional stability.

Kudashev further said that it was for ensuring a stable Pakistan and the efforts are being made to combat terrorism. He also added that during the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few days ago, no concern was expressed over Russia-Pakistan ties.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/...rm-russia-narendra-modi-vladimir-putin/298009