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India to train Malaysian Air Force pilots |
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The training in India of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) pilots and the regional and global situation will feature high on the agenda during Defence Minister A.K. Antony’s three-day trip to Malaysia that began Sunday.
Antony’s visit is seen as a reinforcement of New Delhi’s Look East policy and an effort to counter China’s influence in Southeast and East Asia.
Significantly, three of Antony’s four visits abroad since assuming office 15 months ago have been to this region - Singa¬pore (June 2007), Vietnam (December 2007) and now to Malaysia.
He travelled to Russia in October for the annual meeting of the two defence ministers.
Antony will meet Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi among other leaders. According to an official, the street protests by Tamils of Indian origin in Malaysia and the government response are likely to be discussed.
India and Malaysia last month signed a protocol on training of RMAF pilots on their Sukhoi Su-30MKM aircraft by the Indian Air Force (IAF), which operates the MKI version of the jet. There are a number of similarities between the two fighters that Russia is custom-building for both countries.
“This protocol has to be taken forward and will be one of the issues Antony will discuss with Malaysian leaders,” the official said.
The protocol builds on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) signed in May 2007 with the Malaysian defence ministry for the technical training of RMAF personnel on Su-30MKM aircraft.
A high-level delegation including Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, Advisor Sundaram Krishna, Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Z.U. Shah, Indian Air Force Deputy Chief Air Marshal N.A.K. Browne, Principal Staff Officer at Naval Headquarters, Vice Admi¬ral K.N. Sushil and Joint Secretary (South) External Affairs Ministry Biren Nanda is accompanying Antony.
Antony will hold detailed discussions with his Malaysian counterpart and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Najib Bin Tun Hajiabdul Razak and Foreign Minister Ahmed Syed Hamid Albar.
Antony will also visit Penang, where he will meet Governor Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas.
“Malaysia is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its inde¬pendence. The current year also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” a defence ministry statement Jan 4 said.
“Over the years, India and Malaysia have developed strong bilateral relationship encompassing political, economic, educa¬tion, cultural and defence fields. The defence cooperation bet¬ween the two countries was formalized by signing a MoU in 1993, and it has been expanding steadily since then.
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