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Indo-Russian defence ties : Fernandes to visit Moscow

	April 08, 2002

Defence Minister George Fernandes will visit Russia this week to carry forward military cooperation between the two sides and hold discussions on several pending deals for hardware, including the purchase of a refurbished aircraft carrier, reports Arun Mohanty from Moscow.

During the four-day visit beginning April 10, Fernandes is expected to visit some important Russian defence industries, including a factory at Nizhni Tagil that manufactures T-90S tanks and a military installation in Moscow’s suburbs where the two countries are jointly developing a supersonic cruise missile.

Fernandes is expected to address Russia’s concerns about New Delhi’s growing defence cooperation with other countries which Moscow feels is a threat to its dominant position in India’s burgeoning arms market.

India is the only country with which Russia has expressed its readiness to share its latest defence technology. The thrust of Indo-Russian defence cooperation has shifted in recent years from a mere buyer-seller relationship to joint research, development and marketing of hi-tech hardware. Fernandes will hold talks on these issues with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov and Industry And Science Minister Ilya Klebanov. Both countries are currently considering proposals for joint development of a fifth generation jet fighter and a 100-seater multi-role aircraft.

Other important deals under discussion include the leasing of two Schuka-class nuclear powered submarines and four Tu-22M3 nuclear-capable bombers, besides the purchase of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier and joint production of Amur-class submarines.

Fernandes’ visit, originally scheduled to begin on March 24, was postponed due to problems faced by the Indian Government in getting a controversial anti-terror law passed in Parliament. Fernandes, who is the convenor of ruling coalition in New Delhi, played a major role in coordinating efforts to get the law passed March 26.



Moscow backs Indian efforts against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism

Russia has strongly endorsed efforts by traditional ally India to counter “Pakistan-controlled” terrorism and asserted that it would not bow to global pressure to stop assisting New Delhi’s nuclear energy programmes.

Visiting Russian Security Council Secretary Vladimir Roushailo said the steps taken by New Delhi to counter trans-national terrorism were “absolutely justified.” India accuses Pakistan of cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Russia supports steps taken by the Indian Government to strengthen security and regards as absolutely justified the demands of the Indian leadership to stop activities of the terrorist organisations based in Pakistan-controlled territories,” Roushailo said on April 4.

Referring to New Delhi’s demand for the extradition from Pakistan of 20 people wanted for crimes committed in Indian territory, he said all persons engaged in trans-national terrorism have to be tried and punished in accordance with global laws. Noting the common position of the two sides on global and regional security, Roushailo said Moscow would go on assisting India’s nuclear energy programmes regardless of opposition from “certain countries” that he did not name.

Western nations, particularly the U.S., have mounted pressure on Moscow to suspend aid to India’s nuclear projects. Russia is currently helping India construct two 1,000 MW nuclear power plants at Koodankulam in southern Tamil Nadu state at an estimated cost of Rs.140 billion.

“Russia does have any intention to give away its right to continue assisting India with its nuclear energy programmes,” Roushailo said. “We know that certain countries stand against our cooperation in this field but we hope the construction of the Koodankulam project will continue according to schedule.” He, however, said India could deflect some of the global criticism for its nuclear programmes by joining non-proliferation regimes such as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Roushailo held wide-ranging talks on international politics and strategic stability with his Indian counterpart Brajesh Mishra, Home Minister Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes on April 3. He also delivered a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Prime Minister Vajpayee.

“Issues of international and regional stability, fighting international terrorism, organised crime, illegal drug trafficking and illegal immigration were discussed,” he said. “Our long-term national and geopolitical interests mostly converge.” Developments in Afghanistan and the U.S. military presence in Central Asian countries too figured in his talks with Indian leaders.

India and Russia, which he said shared similar views on the reconstruction of war-ravaged Afghanistan, would soon begin work to repair an important travel route via the Salang Pass that forms the shortest link between north and south Afghanistan.

“A team from the Russian Ministry for dealing with emergencies is currently in Afghanistan and has set up several field hospitals. We will soon send a team of de-mining experts,” Roushailo said.

Referring to the US military presence in Central Asian countries, he said Moscow hoped the deployment would last only till Washington was engaged in anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan.



Indian Air Force loses yet another MiG-21

The Indian Air Force lost yet another of its ageing MiG-21 fighters in an accident in Rajasthan on April 4. A decorated pilot who had downed a Pakistani Atlantique reconnaissance plane in the Gujarat sector three years ago was flying the aircraft that crashed.

The MiG-21 was on a routine training flight from the Jodhpur airbase when the pilot had to eject after the aircraft developed technical snags near Jhelu-Gagari village at about 11 a.m.

“The pilot sustained minor injuries but the aircraft was destroyed,” said a Defence Ministry official.

Last month, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) called for the scrapping of the IAF’s ageing MiG-21 fleet, pointing out that 100 MiG-21 jets were among 221 aircraft lost in accidents during 1991-2000. The PAC had noted that IAF could “ill afford” to continue using the MiG aircraft. So far, nearly one hundred pilots have been killed in these accidents. The Air Force Chief has, however, recently said he was fully confident about the airworthiness of the Russian fighter jets.