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Editor's note:
The author is Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. (E-mail: [email protected]).
At the last moment, India's Defense Ministry has abruptly confirmed it would not send troops to a multinational military exercise in Russia. While the KavKaz 2020 military exercises will take place 15-26 September at Donguz training ranges in Russia's Orenburg. Total 18 nations: China, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Belarus, Turkey, Armenia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, are set to take part in Kavkaz 2020.
Although India was invited by Russia to take part in the tri-services train with a contingent of round 200 personnel to southern Russia in September for the multilateral Kavkaz-2020, but India has declined this invitation with a lame excuse of COVID-19.
India is at odd terms with almost all of these countries, especially with China and Pakistan, where the situation is war-like and may deteriorate any moment. India has spiled its relations with Iran and Turkey due to its close partnership with the US. Most of the participating countries either Anti-US or neutral, but not close ally with the US at least.
As a matter of fact, India was a misfit in these exercises as all of the participating countries are on the same page on regional and global security issues. At the same time, India is the only country with the opposite camp.
It is believed that Indian decision not to attend is welcomed by most of the participating countries, as some of them were afraid that India might participatein the exercises with the intension of spying for the US. At least, in the absence of India, all participating countries can cooperate and share all their experience and capabilities freely.
However, Shri Raj Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production of India, led a high-level delegation to attend"VI international military forum Army-2020", first major defense expo of this year – opened near Moscow. One thousand five hundred companies, over 28,000 pieces of hardware and weaponry, 18 foreign delegations.
It is worth mentioning that the former USSR was a significant partner for Indian Defense during the cold war era. Most of the Indian defense industry is based on Russian technology and weapons. However, with the disintegration of the USSR, India took U-turn and kept on looking toward the US and succeeded in attracting the US as "Major Defense Partner." Naturally, India can not enjoy the same status, after sitting in the US lapse.
Significantly, after having a conflict with China in the disputed Ladakh region, the gape between India and Russia has been widened, as Russia-China partnership is very robust already.
Information company ANI, quoting sources within the Defence Ministry, stated that China's participation within the train was additionally a cause for India to tug out of the multilateral tri-services navy train.
It is also learned that the Indian Defence Minister could be visiting Russia on September 4-6 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation defense ministers' assembly; however, it's unlikely that the Indian consultant could be holding any talks along with his Chinese counterpart.
It is to be noted that India and China have been engaged in a territorial battle in Ladakh, and Chinese troops have transgressed into several areas and are fully disengaged in areas akin to Finger, Depsang Plains, and Gogra heights. Both side has amassed over 40,000 troops on their respective aspect of the LAC with the induction of heavy weaponry together with long-range artillery and tanks. India is also engaged along with the US against China in the South China Sea and Strait of Malacca.
On the other hand, India is engaged with all its bordering countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, etc. Even hostile toward Maldive and Sri Lanka. Under massive engagement with neighboring countries, India may not afford to send its contingent abroad for Military exercises.
The irony is that India has chosen a friend thousands of miles away, while created adversaries all around its neighborhood. It is true, one can select a friend of its own choice, but neighbors are not chosen, one has to live with them, either like them or not.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
