New Delhi: In another major move by the Narendra Modi government in the context of an ongoing conflict with China in eastern Ladakh, India said on Saturday that it will not participate in the multinational military exercise Kavkaz-2020 in Russia.
New Delhi has informed Russia that its troops will not participate in the Kavkaz-2020 multinational military exercise in which Chinese and Pakistani troops will also participate.
The government has also taken into account the worsening global COVID-19 situation, where India alone witnesses more than 70,000 positive cases daily to make a decision regarding participation in war games taking place in the Astrakhan area in southern Russia.
“A high-level meeting was held in South Block in which the Minister of Foreign Affairs, S Jaishankar, and the Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat were present. After the meeting, it was discussed that it would not be correct to participate in the multilateral exercise where Chinese and Pakistani military personnel would also be present, “said defense sources.
Sources said that while India is caught in a military conflict with the Chinese in eastern Ladakh and on high alert along the 4,000-kilometer Royal Line of Control (LAC), it cannot be normal for New Delhi to engage in exercises. multilateral military with them.
Subsequently, the Defense Ministry issued a statement saying: “Russia and India are close and privileged strategic partners. At the invitation of Russia, India has been participating in many international events. However, in view of the pandemic and the consequent difficulties in During the exercise, including logistics arrangements, India has decided not to send a contingent this year to Kavkaz-2020. The same has been informed to the Russian side. “
India and China had clashed in the Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives, while the Chinese also suffered several casualties with dozens of Chinese soldiers killed and wounded there.
The sources said Defense Minister Rajnath Singh would visit Russia from September 4-6 for the defense ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, but the Indian representative is unlikely to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart.
During the meeting, India may raise the point of expansionist policies of the Chinese along the Indian border, but a final decision on the matter will be made closer to the event, the sources said.
India was invited by Russia to participate in the three-service exercise with a contingent of around 200 people to southern Russia in September for the multilateral Kavkaz-2020.
The exercise is being carried out in the southern Russian province of Astrakhan, where the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the countries of Central Asia will participate.
The Tsentr exercise last year was attended by India, Pakistan and all SCO member countries. India and China have been involved in a territorial conflict in eastern Ladakh and the northern subsector (Ladakh) where Chinese troops have transgressed in multiple areas and refused to fully withdraw in areas such as the Finger, Depsang Plains, and Gogra heights.
Both sides have amassed more than 40,000 soldiers on their respective side of LAC with the induction of heavy weaponry, including long-range artillery and tanks.
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