India offers joint naval wargames

NEW DELHI—India, which recently staged its first military exercises with China, is ready to carry out naval manoeuvres with arch-rival Pakistan, the navy chief has said.
Admiral Sureesh Mehta made the offer late Thursday on the sidelines of the inaugural Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in New Delhi. “It would have followed as a matter of course if they (Pakistan) were here,” he replied to questions on the possibility of a joint naval manoeuvre with Pakistan, which has fought three wars with India since partition in 1947.
However, a first exercise with Pakistan may not happen in Indian waters, the admiral said. “But now I suppose it (exercise) may happen in a third country,” Mehta said. Twenty-six navies have sent senior representatives including Australia, Egypt and France to the forum, seen by experts as an effort by New Delhi to assert its strategic presence.
Pakistan, which has never previously held military wargames with India, is represented at the meeting by its envoy in New Delhi and a junior naval officer. Mehta said he hoped IONS would attract broader participation in the future. “For the few against whom circumstances have so conspired as to preclude their presence in this inaugural event, I would like to send a message to say: rest assured that your places are reserved,’” he had said in a speech to the forum. India’s ties with its estranged neighbour have improved since the two launched a peace process in 2004. In 2006, coastal security agencies from both countries set up a telephone hotline, but bilateral naval contacts remain limited. India, which fought a brief border war with China in 1962 and still has unresolved border disputes with Beijing, carried out its first military exercises with the People’s Liberation Army on Chinese soil in December.
Pakistan and India on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to enhance the frequency of flights per week from existing 12 to 28 for each side.The MoU was signed between both the countries at the conclusion of two-day meeting held at the Ministry of Defence Rawalpindi.On conclusion of the meeting a joint Press Statement was issued confirming that against the two destinations presently available to the designated airlines in each other’s territory. “It was agreed to add Chennai for the designated airline of Pakistan and Islamabad for the designated airline of India, as third destination. This will enable direct air connectivity between the capitals of the two countries,” the statement said.
The statement said it was also agreed that each country shall henceforth be entitled to designate three airlines each to operate the agreed services on the specified routes. At Present only one airline operates between India and Pakistan. Both sides expressed satisfaction that the new arrangement would further the objective of facilitating people to people contacts, business and trade activities between the two countries. Both delegations also agreed to meet again at a mutually convenient date within one year to review the capacity / frequency framework and additional destinations in each others territory, keeping in view the market demand.
The delegations representing the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Government of the Republic of India met in Rawalpindi on February, 14-15 for consultations on air service matters.—Agencies