New Delhi, August 29
meThe ndia decided to withdraw from a multilateral war game in Russia next month, government sources said on Saturday, a week after New Delhi confirmed its participation in the exercise that Chinese and Pakistani troops are also expected to attend.
Last week, India had informed Russia that it will participate in the strategic command post exercise to be held in the Astrakhan region of southern Russia from September 15 to 26.
Although no reason has been officially cited for India to reverse its decision, people familiar with the development said that China’s participation in the exercise was a major factor behind the review.
“The decision has been made not to participate in the exercise,” said a source.
It is known that the decision was made after deliberations between the high command of the armed forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Indian and Chinese troops have been embroiled in a bitter clash in various areas along the Royal Line of Control in eastern Ladakh for more than three and a half months. Both countries hold talks at the military and diplomatic level to resolve the dispute.
About 20 countries, including all member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), including China and Pakistan, are expected to participate in the Kavkaz exercise.
India’s reconsideration of its participation in the military drill comes ahead of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s scheduled visit to Russia next week for a crucial SCO meeting.
The meeting of SCO defense ministers is expected to discuss the regional security scenario and geostrategic developments.
India had previously planned to send around 150 Indian Army soldiers, 45 Indian Air Force personnel, and several Navy officers to the multilateral military exercise.
Russia has been an important partner of India in the defense sector and the cooperation has been growing steadily.
In June, a contingent of three services from India participated in the Victory Day Parade in Moscow’s iconic Red Square to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. A contingent from China had also attended.
Both India and China are members of the SCO, an influential regional grouping.
The SCO, seen as a counterweight to NATO, has become one of the largest international transregional organizations, accounting for almost 44% of the world’s population stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and from the Pacific Ocean. to the Baltic Sea. PTI
