New Delhi, August 29
India today withdrew from a multinational military exercise organized by Russia in which Chinese and Pakistani troops were also expected to participate. With tensions looming, India did not want its military to be seen alongside that of China and Pakistan.
This decision was made at a high-level meeting attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, S Jaishankar, and the Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat. It was decided that with India embroiled in a military conflict with China in eastern Ladakh, it could not continue as usual. China has stalled all efforts to disengage from the Royal Line of Control.
Jaishankar and General Rawat also took into account the worsening global situation for Covid-19. India and China clashed in the Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives while the Chinese suffered an undeclared number of casualties.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Russia from September 4-6 for the defense ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where India can raise the issue of China’s troop build-up along the border. India. – TNS
