India must not ignore S.E. Asia: Fernandes

HANOI, MARCH 27. The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, has said India must firm up strategic ties with key ASEAN and Asia- Pacific countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia, adding that neglect of this would be at New Delhi's ``own peril''.

Stating that India has neighbours who ``may be more difficult'', he said Hanoi and Jakarta had strongly voiced the need for closer relationship with New Delhi and ``we must respond to these to give a greater strategic depth to ties in the region.''

Mr. Fernandes, who addressed the Indian community in Vietnam here on Sunday night, said New Delhi had neglected relations with its traditional allies in South-East Asia and India ``would be closing its eyes to the region at its own peril''.

The Minister, whose visit leading Thai daily Bangkok Post said was closely watched by Beijing, did not make any direct reference to China but said India ``has to learn to live with its neighbours even though they may be more difficult''.

Describing Hanoi as New Delhi's ``most trusted friend and ally'', Mr. Fernandes said when India got flak from all over the world after the 1998 nuclear tests, Vietnam ``stood by us'' because ``they understand that if we went nuclear there were good security reasons for it''.

Mr. Fernandes, the first Indian Defence Minister to visit Vietnam, termed as ``breakthrough'' the recent visit to New Delhi by the Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, and said, ``we have to ask why our eyes are turned to the West and not to our neighbours.''

Defence pact

India and Vietnam will sign an agreement tomorrow paving the way for institutionalising military cooperation between the two countries with Hanoi to train Indian Army officers in jungle warfare and counter-insurgency.

The agreement to be signed by Mr. Fernandes and his Vietnamese counterpart, Senior Lt. Gen. Pham Van Tra, would provide for regular exchange of security perceptions and Intelligence and visits by top military brass, official sources said here today.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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