The Hindu : India, U.S. plan greater military cooperation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 28, 2002

National

National

India, U.S. plan greater military cooperation

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI APRIL 27. India and the United States will hold high-level discussions this summer to expand cooperation in military affairs. The ongoing process to impart a greater momentum to military ties coincides with the larger role envisaged for India in the changed security environment, particularly in the oil-rich sea-lanes from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Straits.

The engagement in Washington will focus on all aspects of military-to-military cooperation with an emphasis on joint operations. The goal is to achieve inter-operability and familiarisation among the armed forces to enable them to carry out joint patrolling of the Malacca Straits and conduct ``peace keeping operations'' in future without encountering procedural hiccups.

While the Air Forces and the Armies of the two countries are discussing the finer points of cooperation, the navies have firmed up plans to revive the `Malabar' series of joint exercises which were put on hold after India conducted nuclear tests in 1998. To be conducted on a much bigger scale than in the past, the Malabar exercises, scheduled for this autumn, will witness the participation by several American warships and submarines.

Preliminary manoeuvres to attain proficiency in conducting the more advanced Malabar exercises are being carried out. The two sides have executed a search-and-rescue drill as well as a ship ``passing exercise'' with another scheduled for next month. Keeping in view India's strategic role in the sea-lanes, the two navies have advanced much more quickly in achieving familiarisation. American ships are regular visitors at the Chennai and Mumbai ports and the experience so far has been useful.

The high-level meeting envisaged in Washington under the aegis of the Defence Policy Group (DPG) — represented by top civilian officials from Defence Ministries of both the countries — is scheduled from May 20 to 23.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National