Tag: South Asia

  • Danger to stability in South Asia due to China’s ambitions, Sino-Pak nexus ‘anti-Indian’: CDS General Bipin Rawat

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that China’s ambitions and aspirations to global power presented an “omnipresent danger” to stability in South Asia.

    China is making “huge” inroads in South Asia and in the Indian Ocean region to strengthen its position as an emerging global power he said, while delivering the first Ravi Kant Singh Memorial Lecture here.

    “Of late, we are witnessing a geo-strategic competition and huge investment by China in the region to create a favourable posture to provide sufficient security to its interests,” he said.

    Bangladesh and Myanmar have been the largest recipients of Chinese military aid in the recent past, along with significant investments in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives “to gain strategic foothold (in the region),” he said.

    ALSO READ: China’s tech advances in cyber, space domains most worrisome, says CDS General Bipin Rawat

    He added that China’s foray into Myanmar and Bangladesh are not in India’s national interest as these are attempts to ‘engulf India’.

    The lecture was organised in memory of Ravi Kant Singh, a young IPS officer who was killed by ULFA terrorists in Tinsukia in Assam in the late 1990s.

    “There exists an omnipresent danger of regional strategic instability,” Rawat said, adding that it has the potential of ‘threatening India’s territorial integrity and strategic importance’.

    The General also said Pakistan’s state sponsored terrorism as well as by non-state actors against India is a stumbling block to peace process between the two countries.

    ALSO READ: Procuring advanced surveillance systems is Indian armed forces’ topmost priority: CDS Bipin Rawat

    He described the ‘partnership’ between Pakistan and China on a range of issues, from China providing military hardware to Pakistan and supporting it in international fora, as an ‘anti-India nexus’.

    Later addressing a press conference, the chief of defence staff said border issues with China has to be viewed in its totality, and not as issues pertaining to the Ladakh sector or North Eastern states.

    “In 2020, there was a little bit of problem (between India and China). Issues are being resolved with talks at different levels, from military to political level,” he said.

    Rawat also said such issues have copped up in the past too between the two neighbours, but have been resolved.

    ALSO READ: India’s armed forces are ready to deal with any security challenge, says CDS Bipin Rawat

    “There are suspicions between the two countries, and hence, it takes time to resolve the issues. The people must have faith and confidence in the system and the armed forces,” he added.

    He said as a measure to counter China’s influence in the region, India has to step up its engagement in neighbouring countries.

    He said, “Chinese have a habit of using money power to gain popularity in a country (they are trying to influence). But as our prime minister has given a clarion call, we believe in security and growth for all.”

    “We have to tell our neighbours that we are here as permanent friends and engage with them on equal terms and we consider all neighbours as equal partners in development,” he added.

    Rawat also emphasized on the need to exploit cultural linkages with the neighbouring countries to strengthen ties.

    On the country’s defence preparedness, Rawat said, “We are standing strong.”

    He said there is adequate defence and arms systems at India’s disposal, and the government has allowed the armed forces to procure needed armaments by invoking emergency powers.

    “No questions are being asked (by the government) as long as our security mechanism improves,” he added.

    Commenting on the recent violence against security forces as well as civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, Rawat said, “Our western adversary (Pakistan) is indulging in a proxy war with us. They will do anything to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”

    He also said the killings in Jammu & Kashmir were an attempt by the neighbouring country to spread fear among the people.

    “We should not fear them or fall prey to such traps,” he said, adding that any possible exodus of people from J&K should be stopped.

    To counter Pakistan’s designs, the chief of defence staff said the intelligence network is being strengthened.

    Rawat added that the freedom of movement that people in Jammu & Kashmir were starting to enjoy in recent times may be disrupted due to the current situation and urged for people’s cooperation in tackling the situation.

  • EU for flood affected people in South Asia, victims of cyclone emphon will get special help

    New Delhi: The European Union has decided to provide assistance of 14.50 crore rupees (1.65 million euros) to deal with floods in Bangladesh, Nepal and India in South Asia. The European Union has said that as early as this year, Rs 15.85 crore (1.8 million euros) were declared for disasters, including the cyclone Amphon that devastated India and Bangladesh. Till date, around 30 crore rupees (3.45 million euros) have been provided to the affected people in the region, including the amount of aid given at present. At the same time, Nepal and Bihar were also flooded very recently.

    France also helped

    France also announced a concessional loan of 200 million euros (about Rs. 1,710 crore) in the month of June to help the vulnerable sections of India affected by the flood corona infection epidemic and Hurricane Emphon. 

    PM Modi did aerial survey of storm affected areas

    Let us know that on 22 May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the areas affected by cyclone emphyn in Odisha and West Bengal. He had announced financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for West Bengal and Rs 500 crore for Odisha. During this time, PM Modi had talked about sending an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) by the Ministry of Home Affairs to assess the damage caused by the storm in Bengal and Odisha.

    It is worth noting that only West Bengal had suffered a loss of 80 thousand crores due to cyclone emphon. According to a report, the maximum damage was done to the houses. 21 lakh homes were destroyed by this cyclone storm. The house collapsed in 500 mauzas. All the residents of these 1500 mauzas will be compensated by the government, apart from this there was a loss of about 21 thousand crores in agriculture.