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Indian warships were deployed at forward positions: Navy Chief

Sharing details of the Chinese warships’ presence in the Indian Ocean Region, Admiral Kumar said that on an average there are seven Chinese PLA Navy ships, reports Asian Lite News

Indian warships were deployed at forward positions during the border clashes with China at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, said Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Friday, pointing out that the security situation at the northern borders has added to the challenges India faces.

Admiral Kumar asserted that the Indian Navy is fully confident of defending India’s maritime interests and is carrying out the acquisition of platforms considering the possible security challenges before the country.

He said that the Indian Navy has been keeping an eye on the presence of China’s People’s Liberation Army (Navy) in the Indian Ocean since 2007.

Sharing details of the Chinese warships’ presence in the Indian Ocean Region, Admiral Kumar said that on an average there are seven Chinese PLA Navy ships. They also send their submarines sometimes.

“We are aware about their (Chinese) ships deployment. We also plan our strategy keeping everything in mind,” said Admiral Kumar adding, “We have kept Chinese ships under close surveillance, and we continue to do that even now.”

He was addressing the media ahead of the Indian Navy Day on December 4.

Speaking about the Chinese Navy’s strength, the Admiral said they have constructed 180 ships in the last 10 years.

Talking about the Indian Navy’s strength, he said the Indian Navy has evolved from 33 ships to “where we are today. We develop our capability based on our maritime interests not what others are doing.”

He added that a total of 39 warships and submarines are being constructed and 37 of them are being built in Indian shipyards.

Detailing about the ships’ induction into the fleet, he said in the last seven years 28 ships were commissioned.

Talking about unmanned systems, Admiral Kumar said: “We have a ten-year road map with a plan to have indigenous unmanned airborne, underwater and autonomous systems.”

He appreciated the government’s decision to create a Department of Military Affairs, saying, “The creation of the Department of Military Affairs is the biggest reform in the military since independence along with the creation of the post of CDS. This enables faster decision-making and fewer layers of bureaucracy.”

India and China are engaged in border disputes for the last 19 months.

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India initiates collaboration visit for Lankan army officers

Several interactions with top armed forces officials and visits to various industries and cultural sites have also been scheduled during the visit, it informed…reports Asian Lite News.

As part of its move to contribute towards Sri Lankan armed forces’ capacity building including personality development initiative, India has organized an international collaboration visit for officers of Sri Lankan armed forces at Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Indian embassy said in a statement released on Saturday.

Though it has not been announced as when this visit will take place, the embassy statement said the delegation of 39 officers will not only be exposed to the functioning of all three Service Headquarters at New Delhi but will also get familiarized with the routine of tri-services field formations.

Several interactions with top armed forces officials and visits to various industries and cultural sites have also been scheduled during the visit, it informed.

In order to mark the significant event, Deputy High Commissioner Vinod K. Jacob and Assistant Defence Adviser Lt Col Puneet Sushil, visited DSCSC, Batalanda near Colombo on Saturday to interact with the delegation and to personally see them off for the visit to India.

During the interaction, the Deputy High Commissioner stressed that India and Sri Lanka have centuries old umbilical linkage underpinned by Buddhism and people to people ties. Thus, the initiative has hit the ‘right chord’ and is central to constructively engaging with the hearts and minds of Sri Lanka Armed Forces.

Maj Gen Lalith Herath, Deputy Commandant, DSCSC sincerely appreciated India’s efforts and persistent support towards realization of the visit.

He also underlined that the visit would immensely contribute towards developing greater understanding among the student officers about India’s culture, technical prowess and the structure of elite Indian Armed Forces.

These visits are an initiative to promote camaraderie and bonhomie among the Armed Forces of both the countries and also testify to India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy with specific focus on industrial expertise in the overall ambit of defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, the statement said.

This would further provide an ideal platform to develop personal and everlasting bonds of friendship between the Armed Forces of the two countries who already share a deep and robust professional relationship, it further added. (India News Network)

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