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India eyes big defence pact with Bangladesh during PM Hasina’s April visit
News Desk bdnews24.com
Published: 2017-03-06 21:30:50.0 BdST Updated: 2017-03-06 21:30:50.0 BdS
India and Bangladesh are discussing a ‘comprehensive defence pact’ which New Delhi hopes to ink during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit in April.
“What India is eyeing is a comprehensive defence pact that encompasses training, the sale of military hardware and military to military cooperation,” leading Indian daily, the Hindustan Times reported.
“India is also willing to commit up to $500 million as the line of credit for military cooperation with Dhaka,” it added.
“If (the security pact) comes through, this will be India’s highest ever credit line for defence cooperation. For years, India was not keen on giving the line of credit for security hardware purchases, but that policy is changing slowly but steadily,” a signed article by Jayant Jacob said.
In Jacob’s analysis: “for Indian, what lends urgency to wrap up a comprehensive pact is Dhaka’s growing proximity with China on defence matters.”
There was no immediate reaction from Bangladesh side in this regard.
However, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar during his Dhaka visit in December last year said that the tour would “further strengthen the close and fraternal ties between the armed forces of the two nations.”
He held wide-ranging discussions with Bangladesh’s political and military leadership during his maiden visit.
He also held talks with the security adviser to the prime minister on defence cooperation. The chiefs of the Bangladesh army, navy and Air Force, director general coast guard and the principal staff officer to the armed forces division also called on the Indian minister.
The Indian High Commission after his departure issued a statement and said: “the visit had taken place against the backdrop of the recent settlement of the land and maritime boundaries and increased exchanges between the defence forces of the two countries.”
“The visit is also the first by the Defence Minister to any of India's immediate neighbours and is indicative of the importance the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi places on its relationship with Bangladesh,” the statement noted.
Bangladesh joins Qatar's natural disaster response drills with Tunisia, Italy on May 18, 2015
The Indian defence minister had proposed some “new initiatives” to enhance the capacity and capability endeavours of the Bangladesh armed forces.
In April, Hasina is slated to visit both Delhi and Ajmer.
Sources told the Hindustan Times that the “discussions for a defence pact is progressing and yet to reach a final shape.”
Much to the ‘discomfiture’ of India, in November, last year, Bangladesh purchased two submarines from China. And China remains Bangladesh’s biggest supplier of military hardware, the Hindustan Times added.
During the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Dhaka last year two countries signed pacts amounting to US$ 25 billion in investments in Bangladesh.
> Bang
India eyes big defence pact with Bangladesh during PM Hasina’s April visit
News Desk bdnews24.com
Published: 2017-03-06 21:30:50.0 BdST Updated: 2017-03-06 21:30:50.0 BdS
India and Bangladesh are discussing a ‘comprehensive defence pact’ which New Delhi hopes to ink during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit in April.
“What India is eyeing is a comprehensive defence pact that encompasses training, the sale of military hardware and military to military cooperation,” leading Indian daily, the Hindustan Times reported.
“India is also willing to commit up to $500 million as the line of credit for military cooperation with Dhaka,” it added.
“If (the security pact) comes through, this will be India’s highest ever credit line for defence cooperation. For years, India was not keen on giving the line of credit for security hardware purchases, but that policy is changing slowly but steadily,” a signed article by Jayant Jacob said.
In Jacob’s analysis: “for Indian, what lends urgency to wrap up a comprehensive pact is Dhaka’s growing proximity with China on defence matters.”
There was no immediate reaction from Bangladesh side in this regard.
However, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar during his Dhaka visit in December last year said that the tour would “further strengthen the close and fraternal ties between the armed forces of the two nations.”
He held wide-ranging discussions with Bangladesh’s political and military leadership during his maiden visit.
He also held talks with the security adviser to the prime minister on defence cooperation. The chiefs of the Bangladesh army, navy and Air Force, director general coast guard and the principal staff officer to the armed forces division also called on the Indian minister.
The Indian High Commission after his departure issued a statement and said: “the visit had taken place against the backdrop of the recent settlement of the land and maritime boundaries and increased exchanges between the defence forces of the two countries.”
“The visit is also the first by the Defence Minister to any of India's immediate neighbours and is indicative of the importance the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi places on its relationship with Bangladesh,” the statement noted.
Bangladesh joins Qatar's natural disaster response drills with Tunisia, Italy on May 18, 2015
The Indian defence minister had proposed some “new initiatives” to enhance the capacity and capability endeavours of the Bangladesh armed forces.
In April, Hasina is slated to visit both Delhi and Ajmer.
Sources told the Hindustan Times that the “discussions for a defence pact is progressing and yet to reach a final shape.”
Much to the ‘discomfiture’ of India, in November, last year, Bangladesh purchased two submarines from China. And China remains Bangladesh’s biggest supplier of military hardware, the Hindustan Times added.
During the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Dhaka last year two countries signed pacts amounting to US$ 25 billion in investments in Bangladesh.
