India providing security cover at Saarc summit

[Bl[i]tZ]

India providing security cover at Saarc summit

NEW DELHI: India has deployed at least a couple of aircraft and warships, including a frigate packed with weapons, to provide "security cover" to the ongoing Saarc summit at Maldives.

Defence ministry sources say the deployment of "assets", including the frigate INS Brahmaputra and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft, will provide "seafront and offshore security" for delegations of Saarc countries during the summit. Besides its potent weapons, the 3,850-tonne INS Brahmaputra usually carries Sea King and Chetak helicopters as well as a detachment of marine commandos.

This is not the first time that Indian warships and aircraft have provided cover for Saarc summits. In 2008, the summit in Colombo also saw three Indian warships and helicopters being deployed in Lankan waters to guard against the active LTTE commandos.

Similarly, Indian warships have provided seaward security for international summits in Mozambique in recent years. Defence minister A K Antony had recently held that India would be the "net security provider" for island countries in the Indian Ocean region.

The government is stepping up its military cooperation with Maldives to counter China's expanding strategic inroads into the 1,190-island archipelago.

The Navy has been regularly deploying Dorniers to help in anti-piracy patrols and maritime surveillance.

New Delhi, apart from hydrographic surveys and other military assistance, is also assisting Male to set up a network of ground radars in all its 26 atolls and link them with the Indian military surveillance systems.

India providing security cover at Saarc summit - The Times of India

 

[KS]

Unnecessary..what benefit do terrorists get killing the South Asian leaders..

 

[Hulk]

it is no big deal.

 

[sivadreams]

This was relevant during Columbo meet due to LTTE threat. But now the question is does Somalian pirates pose similar threat? I think its more of India projecting security sense across South Asian nations as e regional power. These are baby steps for power projection

 

[DV RULES]

Indian naval trolling

 

[OrionHunter]

Oh wow! Next they'll be deploying nukes too! Bl00dy overkill! WTF?

 

[Avisheik]

I think a couple of Offshore patrol vessel will to enough to provide security. Getting a fully loaded frigate is just too much

 

[Mech]

Un-necessary. The only reason why SAARC meetings are held is to decide when the next meeting will occur. Waste of time and resources.

 

[tvsram1992]

Unnecessary..what benefit do terrorists get killing the South Asian leaders..

Shhhh......
We are also part of south asia .

 

[pari.mehta]

I think a couple of Offshore patrol vessel will to enough to provide security. Getting a fully loaded frigate is just too much

Remember that incident when the islands came underattack? if that were to happen with the SAARC summit there it would be DISASTROUS. I think we sent a Delhi class back then. I may be mistaken tho.
Justified, imho.

 

[cyphercide]

Nothing new.The USAF does exclusive flybys even for irrelevant events like football playoffs.It's just a sign that you have more than enough inventory to play around with.

 

[brational]

Just to spend the saarc meeting budget and a vacation to all leaders in the beautiful island nation. time pass..

 

[Super Falcon]

Are those leaders coming to maldives and nepal through boats hahaha should have given air cover countries like maldives bhutan nepal bangladesh who are supporting india because india pay them extra for their support these small islands cam be dectated not pakistan and china