[🇮🇳] Indian External Affairs

[Beijingwalker]

Source : https://www.newagebd.net/article/225968/india-wants-to-share-india-made-defence-technologies-with-bangladesh

Not possible for India to remain truly non-aligned with China sitting on its frontiers: Tharoor​

Tharoor held that the one thing India wanted after Independence was not to be tied down to any other country’s perspective on the world and that it wanted the right to decide for itself on the merits of every issue.​

PTI

JANUARY 27, 2024 / 10:25 PM IST

He said that while relations with Maldives at present are not good, that with Sri Lanka was not too bad, while that with Bangladesh is pretty good.​

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that with China sitting on India’s frontiers, it is not possible for India to remain “truly non-aligned”.

He said that the world being in disorder has shaken some of the assumptions of India’s foreign policy.

“We are still non-aligned and a member of the non-aligned movement. But what does that mean anymore is not very clear, because the two superpowers are no longer the US and the (erstwhile) Soviet Union. They are the US and increasingly China,” he said.

In that situation, Delhi cannot be truly non-aligned with a hostile China “sitting at India’s frontiers”, Tharoor said while speaking at a talk show at the Kolkata International Book Fair.
He said that if China were to take a “more directly belligerent posture, there is every likelihood that hard choices will have to be made by India”. Tharoor said that though India is not in a treaty like NATO, it has partnered with the US, Australia and Japan in the QUAD.

“We do have a partnership that counts, similarly we are in a situation in which we are seen by the Chinese as more aligned with their enemies or with those countries trying to contain them,” Tharoor said.


The Lok Sabha MP from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram said that India is also a member of a new grouping I2U2 comprising India, Israel, United States and the United Arab Emirates. “I don’t know what the future of I2U2 is in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict,” he said.

The noted writer and a former diplomat said that India has become much closer to Israel than it was in the past. He said that strong bilateral relations exist between the two countries with Narendra Modi being the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel and his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu coming to this country twice.

Stating that India is also going through a state of flux in view of the international developments, he said that Modi is trying to position India as the voice of the global south. “That is an updated version of the non-aligned movement,” the Congress leader said. He said that every government in India, starting from Independence, has been wedded to the idea of strategic autonomy.


Tharoor held that the one thing India wanted after Independence was not to be tied down to any other country’s perspective on the world and that it wanted the right to decide for itself on the merits of every issue.

“When we signed the 20-year treaty on peace, friendship and cooperation with the Soviet Union, the world perceived us of having tilted to it, and similarly, with a lot of agreements signed now give to the world the perception that we are tilting towards the US, even if we profess to be non-aligned,” Tharoor said.

He said that it is not India’s fault that relations are not as good with Maldives under its present ruling dispensation as was during the previous government in the island nation and one has to see it in the context of that country’s policies.

“Gratitude doesn’t go very far in international affairs,” he said, adding that India has done a lot for the Maldives, from putting down a coup against their government, supplying plane-loads of water to it, but that does not go a long way in deciding such relationships.

He said that while relations with Maldives at present are not good, that with Sri Lanka was not too bad, while that with Bangladesh is pretty good. “Relations with Pakistan are in bad shape, Nepal is more and more subject to Chinese influence and Chinese influence is also increasing in Bhutan,” he said about India’s position vis-a-vis smaller countries in the periphery.

“On the whole, we are not doing very well in the border areas, but not all of it is India’s fault,” he said that it is important that India’s foreign policy takes into account its national interest first.

Not possible for India to remain truly non-aligned with China sitting on its frontiers: Tharoor

Tharoor held that the one thing India wanted after Independence was not to be tied down to any other country’s perspective on the world and that it wanted the right to decide for itself on the merits of every issue.

www.moneycontrol.com

 

[Beijingwalker]

Amidst China Conflict, India’s Pledges $75B For Defense In 2024-25 Fiscal; 10 Times Lower Than Beijing​

By NC Bipindra
-February 2, 2024

India will spend nearly US$75 billion (INR 6.21 trillion) on its military, including a modernization budget of US$20 billion (INR 1.72 trillion). The modernization money will go towards purchasing fighter aircraft, warships, submarines, and mechanized fighting vehicles. In contrast, the rest of the money will go towards sustaining existing weapons and taking care of the pay and pensions of personnel.

The US$ 75 billion Indian military budget is estimated to be ten times lower than China’s unofficial spending of US$700 billion, as assessed by the American think-tank, The Heritage Foundation, in its September 2023 study. The United States spends upwards of US$800 billion on defense.

According to the Indian Ministry of Defense, the budget allocation, as presented by India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, would cater to “the current geopolitical scenario” and meet the “twin objectives of promoting self-reliance and (arms) exports.”

This was the final budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second tenure, and hence was also colloquially known as “interim budget” or officially as “vote on account.” The total budget for the financial year 2024-25, which would start in April, would be presented in the Monsoon Session of the Indian Parliament in July after the April-May parliamentary elections to elect a new national government for India.

The 2024-25 interim defense budget is working out to 13.04% of the total budget of the Government of India, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. “The Ministry of Defense (MoD) continues to receive the highest allocation among the Ministries. The budgetary allocation to Defense for FY24-25 is higher by approximately (INR) one lakh crore (INR 1 trillion) or 18.35% over the allocation for FY 2022-23 and 4.72% more than the allocation of FY23-24.”

Of this, a significant share of 27.67% would go to capital expenditure for buying new weapons and military systems, 14.82% for revenue expenditure on sustenance and operational preparedness of arms and ammunition, 30.68% for pay and allowances to defense personnel, 22.72% for pensions of retired personnel, and 4.11% for civil organizations under MoD.

Upward Trend In Defense Capital Spend For Self-Reliance​

The budgetary allocation of US20 billion for FY2024-25 for capital acquisitions is 20.33% higher than the actual expenditure of FY22-23 and 9.40% over the Revised Allocation for the present fiscal year 2023-24. “The allocation aligns with the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) of the three Services aimed to fill the critical capability gaps through modernization of the Armed Forces by materializing some big-ticket acquisitions in FY2024-25,” the ministry said.

The enhanced budgetary allocation will facilitate equipping the Armed Forces with state-of-the-art, niche technology lethal weapons, fighter aircraft, ships, drones, and specialist vehicles, apart from missile systems, ISR capabilities, and countermeasures for enemy capabilities. The current big-ticket purchases in the next year could include six conventional submarines with Air Independent Propulsion systems on board, 4.5 generation combat jets, Predator drone variants for the three armed forces, and warships.

Other projects could include the planned modernization of the existing Su-30 fleet, additional aircraft procurement, acquisition of advanced engines for existing MiG-29, and acquisition of transport aircraft C-295 and missile systems, which will be funded from the allocated budget.


Apart from this, to further take the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Mk1 IOC/FOC configuration will be additionally funded to ensure state-of-the-art technology in domestic production. The Indian Navy projects, such as the acquisition of deck-based fighter aircraft, submarines, and next-generation survey vessels, will all materialize through this allocation.

“The sizeable allocation under capital expenditure is centered around promoting ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in the defense sector. A large portion of the allocation will be utilized for procurement through domestic sources to provide domestically manufactured next-generation weapon systems to the country, which will have a multiplier effect on the Gross Domestic Product, create employment, ensure capital formation, and provide a stimulus to the domestic economy,” the ministry said.

New Measures In Defense Budget​

The Economic Survey of India 2023 has projected that in the ship-building sector, the investment multiplier is around 1.82, which means that an infusion of approximately INR 1.5 lakh crore (INR 1.5 trillion) in naval ship-building projects would accrue a circulation of INR 2.73 lakh crore (INR 2.73 trillion) in the ship-building sector due to the multiplier effect.

This year, the government of India has made a conscious call to foster jointness among the services by consolidating the demand of the three armed forces into similar items of expenditure such as land, aircraft and aero-engines, and heavy and medium vehicles. This will bring flexibility in financial management by enabling the MoD to reappropriate the funds among the armed forces, considering inter-services priority. This mechanism will also expedite decision-making and ensure better utilization of the capital budget.

To enhance the sustenance funding for the operational readiness of the armed forces, the Indian government has allocated INR 920.88 billion (INR 92,088 crore) for revenue expenditure, which is 48% higher than the budgetary allocation for FY2022-23. During the mid-year review, the allocation on this head was increased by 82% over the fiscal allocation of FY 22-23, crossing the figure of INR 1 trillion for the first time.

“This aims to provide the best maintenance facilities and support system to all platforms, including aircraft and ships. It also facilitates procuring ammunition, mobility of resources, and movement of personnel, catering to the day-to-day expenditure of the armed forces in strengthening the deployment in forward areas and keeping the forces always ready to take care of any eventuality. The continued higher allocation since FY2023-24 in this (budgetary) head has resolved the troops’ grievance and improved their sustenance and operational readiness,” the ministry said.

Border Infrastructure, Coast Guard & Defense R&D​

In light of the continued threat perception faced at the Sino-Indian de factor border, a jump in the Capital Budget allocation to the Border Roads Organisation continued in the next year’s budget. Since May 2020, the armed forces of the two nations have been in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, with the Galwan clashes being the worst ever in 40 years and the first direct clash between troopers, claiming 20 Indian military personnel’s lives and unverified claims of around 40 personnel on the Chinese side.

The allocation for FY2024-25 to boost border infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and military facilities is INR 6,500 crore (INR 65 billion), which is 30% higher than the allocation for FY2023-24 and 160% higher over the allocation of FY2021-22. “This indicates the commitment of the Indian government to improve border infrastructure.”

Besides promoting strategic infrastructural development in the border areas, the financial provision made during the budget next year will boost socio-economic development and encourage tourism. Projects such as the development of Nyoma airfield in eastern Ladakh at an altitude of 13,700 feet, permanent bridge connectivity to the southernmost Panchayat of India in Andaman and Nicobar island, 4.1 km strategically important Shinku La tunnel in Himachal Pradesh, Nechiphu tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh and many other projects will be funded out of this allocation.

The allocation to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for FY 2024-25 is INR 7,651.80 crore (INR 76.51 billion), which is 6.31% higher than the allocation for FY2023-24. Of this, INR 3,500 crore (INR 35 billion) is to be incurred only on capital expenditure, adding teeth to the arsenal of the ICG to address the emerging challenges posed in water and provide humanitarian assistance to other nations.

The allocation will facilitate the acquisition of fast-moving patrolling vehicles/interceptors, advanced electronic surveillance systems, and weapons.

Enhanced PINAKA rocket, developed by the Defence

Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, in Odisha on November 04, 2020.

The budgetary allocation to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) increased to INR 23,855 crore (INR 238.55 billion) in FY2024-25 from INR 23,263.89 crore (INR 232.63 billion) in FY 2023-24. A significant share of INR 13,208 crore (INR 132.08 billion) is allocated for capital expenditure.

“This will financially strengthen the DRDO in developing new technology with a particular focus on fundamental research and hand-holding the private parties through Development-cum-production partners. Allocation to the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme stands out as INR 60 crore (INR 60 million), which is specially designed for new start-ups, MSMEs, and academia, attracting bright young minds interested in innovation and developing niche technology in the field of defense in collaboration with the DRDO. The announcement regarding an INR one lakh crore (INR 1 trillion) corpus for Deep Tech for long-term loans to tech-savvy youth/companies and the start-ups’ tax advantage will further impetus to innovation in the defense sector.

In a post on the social media platform ‘X,’ India’s Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh congratulated Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a positive and encouraging ‘Interim Budget,’ which “outlines the vision for a confident, strong and self-reliant ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).” The Budget gives a glimpse of India’s rapid economic transformation, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, he said.

The defense minister added that there is a significant push for infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, housing, and technology development in this Budget. “During the COVID-19, when the world was faltering, India emerged as the beacon of hope. This Budget is perfectly aligned with PM’s ‘Panchamrit Goals,’ it also paves the way for the next five years of unprecedented growth,” he said. Rajnath Singh described the increase in capital expenditure outlay as a massive push, which will significantly boost India’s $5 trillion economy by 2027.

 

[HAIDER]

India releases pigeon accused of spying for China after 8 months​

AFP Published February 2, 2024 Updated about 12 hours ago




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A pigeon that spent eight months in Indian police custody has been released after it was finally cleared of being a suspected Chinese spy.
The bird was caught at a port in the financial capital Mumbai with “messages written in a Chinese-like script” on its wings, the Times of India newspaper reported.
“Initially, the police had registered a case of spying against the bird, but after completing their inquiry, they dropped the charge,” the report added.
The unnamed bird was held under lock and key at a city hospital while police carried out an investigation.
That probe took an “astonishing eight months”, the India office of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said in a statement on Thursday.
PETA India said police had granted “formal permission for the hospital to release the pigeon” on Wednesday.
Local media reports said the bird fluttered away in good health.
The pigeon is the latest of several detained by Indian authorities on suspicion of espionage.
Border security officers took a pigeon into custody in 2016 after it was found carrying a threatening message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi close to India’s border with arch-rival Pakistan.
Another pigeon was held under armed guard in 2010 after it was found in the same region with a ring around its foot and a Pakistani phone number and address stamped on its body in red ink.
Officials, in that case, directed that no one should be allowed to visit the pigeon, which police said may have been on a “special mission of spying”.

 

[Saif]

The only reason India's relationship with Bangladesh is good is because Sheikh Hasina has literally sold our national interest to India. The only way you can forge good relation with India is by selling your national interest and this is precisely what Sheikh Hasina has done.

 

[Lulldapull]

Look at this bukvaas drama. In other words, this was all just fraudulent drama no?

 

[Old School]

Qataris wanted something that the Indians initially didn't want to give. Now it is settled- quid pro quo. Bargain drama. Qataris are trading people without ideological fever.

 

[Lulldapull]

Qataris wanted something that the Indians initially didn't want to give. Now it is settled- quid pro quo. Bargain drama. Qataris are trading people without ideological fever.

Yaar Al-Odeid houses 25k US/ Nato troops with possibly hundreds of Mossad/ Raw agents running the show everywhere. Qatar run by the US basically. And these shaikh chilli created this fake drama of Indians spying? vo bhee do takkay key soopurr quiet Italian submarine which will operate in 50 meters of Persian Gulf depths? 😛

 

[Old School]

An employee of the Indian embassy in Moscow, arrested recently in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly spying for Pakistan's ISI, was honey-trapped by a woman who befriended him on social media, the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad said. Satendra Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in Hapur, shared secret documents related to weapon systems of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, including warplanes and submarines, said Rajeev Tyagi, ATS inspector in Meerut.

 

[Old School]

India on Thursday said it will replace its military personnel in Maldives with civilian technical staff who will operate three aircraft from India that provide humanitarian services. The decision comes after new Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu demanded that the Indian military personnel be withdrawn by March 15. At least 75 Indian military personnel are believed to be in Maldives, and their known activities include transporting patients from remote islands and rescuing people at sea. India earlier gave Maldives a Dornier airplane and two helicopters. Tensions between India and Maldives have grown since Muizzu came to power last year and adopted a pro-China stance.

 

[Old School]

And guess who those "civilian technical staff" are going to be.

 

[TheNewb77]

How much can we trust an Indian source on these subjects?

 

[Old School]

How much can we trust an Indian source on these subjects?

It shows the low level of confidence of the Indian media in their government employees. The extent of our infiltration into the Indian government is much larger than they can acknowledge to our credit. However, as you like, here are other Non-Indian sources. You can find more if you google:
Indian Embassy Employee in Moscow Arrested for Spying for Pakistan - Bloomberg
India arrests Moscow embassy security employee for spying for Pakistan | intelNews.org
‘Pakistan spy’ working at Indian embassy in Moscow arrested | The Independent
Indian embassy employee in Russia arrested for spying for Pakistan (alarabiya.net)

 

[TheNewb77]

It shows the low level of confidence of the Indian media in their government employees. The extent of our infiltration into the Indian government is much larger than they can acknowledge to our credit. However, as you like, here are other Non-Indian sources. You can find more if you google:
Indian Embassy Employee in Moscow Arrested for Spying for Pakistan - Bloomberg
India arrests Moscow embassy security employee for spying for Pakistan | intelNews.org
‘Pakistan spy’ working at Indian embassy in Moscow arrested | The Independent
Indian embassy employee in Russia arrested for spying for Pakistan (alarabiya.net)

My question was just in regard to the Indian outlets, not the source issue. Indian outlets always do tend to have an anti Pakistani narrative in general, but I understand your point.

 

[Old School]

My question was just in regard to the Indian outlets, not the source issue. Indian outlets always do tend to have an anti Pakistani narrative in general, but I understand your point.

Indians are creating panic for themselves, which is funny. It is important to show how our opponents think how good we are.

 

[Old School]

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Tuesday said that India was willing to share wide-spectrum capabilities in defense manufacturing, including the most sophisticated technologies, with Bangladesh. He described SIDE 2024 as a reflection of the Indian defense industry's interest in partnering with Bangladesh and taking India-Bangladesh defense cooperation forward to the next level, including by utilizing the Defence Line of Credit of $500 million extended by the government of India to the government of Bangladesh. Several premier defense manufacturing companies from India's public and private sectors participated in the event. They made presentations showcasing a range of defense equipment, technology, and platforms constructed in India. Representatives from Bangladesh Armed Forces and paramilitary and police forces attended the seminar.
Envoy: India wants to elevate defense ties with Bangladesh (dhakatribune.com)
India keen to share its most sophisticated defense technologies with Bangladesh (daily-sun.com)