Indian Ocean Region to counter Drug Trafficking

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
10-November, 2016 20:17 IST
Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir participated in the High Level Meeting of Interior Ministers of the Indian Ocean Region to Counter Drug Trafficking in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Illicit funds generated from drug trafficking driving terrorist activities and illegal arms trade: Shri Ahir

The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir recently led the Indian delegation to the High Level Meeting of Interior Ministers of the Indian Ocean Region to counter Drug Trafficking, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In his address during the Meeting held on October 29, 2016, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said that the illicit funds being generated from the sale of drugs are being utilized for funding terrorist activities and illegal arms trade. The problem of Narco-terrorism is assuming gigantic proportions, he added.

Citing the recent attack on our security forces at Uri by terrorists having their safe havens in a neighbouring country, Shri Ahir said India reserves the right to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty and has acted in self-defence in the past, whenever and wherever necessary. Underlining that India is committed to take on the demon of terrorism head on and take this fight to the finish, Shri Ahir said this would require concerted efforts by all the stakeholders as no country on its own efforts in isolation can meet the desired objectives.

Shri Ahir said that the increased presence of Naval Forces to counter the threat of terrorism in the Indian Ocean Region has resulted in significant seizures of Heroin consignments over the last two years. The efforts of the Indian Coast Guard, the Sri Lankan Navy and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) have been especially noteworthy in this regard, he added. Stating that the Government of India has entered into Bilateral Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding with more than 30 countries for checking drug trafficking and that India has also taken multilateral initiatives to tackle transnational organized crime, Shri Ahir said India feels proud to be a part of the newly formed Indian Ocean Forum on Maritime Crime (IOFMC).

The Colombo declaration adopted during the high-level meeting states that narcotic drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean poses a threat to peace and security in the region and its possible link to organized crime and funding of terrorism. It stresses upon the need for coastal states to cooperate more closely on enforcing maritime law, sharing information, and providing mutual legal assistance, including the expansion and development of communication through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC’s) Indian Ocean Prosecutors Network.

The declaration, which was issued a couple of days ago, called on the littoral states of the Indian Ocean to meet on an annual basis within the framework of the Southern Route Partnership (SRP) of IOFMC to assess and report on the drug trafficking threat in the Indian Ocean and develop a coordinated approach to counter such threats. The delegates also resolved to work towards making the Indian Ocean a “Drug Free Zone”.

The high-level meeting in Colombo was attended by 18 littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region which included seven Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Interior/Home Affairs. The meeting was also attended by seven international organizations/partner agencies and UN agencies engaged in counter-narcotics initiatives in the region.



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[Hindustani78]

The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir lighting the lamp at the inauguration of the High Level Meeting of Interior Ministers of the Indian Ocean Region to counter Drug Trafficking, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 29, 2016.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir leading the Indian delegation, at the inauguration of the High Level Meeting of Interior Ministers of the Indian Ocean Region to counter Drug Trafficking, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 29, 2016.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in a group photo with the delegates, at the inauguration of the High Level Meeting of Interior Ministers of the Indian Ocean Region to counter Drug Trafficking, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 29, 2016.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in a group photo with the delegates, at the inauguration of the High Level Meeting of Interior Ministers of the Indian Ocean Region to counter Drug Trafficking, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 29, 2016.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-china-to-join-indian-ocean-exercise/article19486761.ece

Maiden drill to be chaired by Dhaka
Despite growing tensions with China, official sources said the Indian Navy would join the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in a maiden maritime search and rescue exercise to be chaired by Bangladesh at the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in November this year.

“Bangladesh, the current Chair, is scheduling a maiden International Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) in November in the Bay of Bengal to be attended by ships and aircraft of the members and observers of the IONS,” an official source said.

The IONS is a regional forum of Indian Ocean littoral states, represented by their Navy chiefs, launched by India in February 2008. It presently has 23 members and nine observers.

Conclave of chiefs

The exercise comes at a time of intensifying competition among regional navies for dominance in the Indian Ocean — navies of China and Japan, presently observers, in addition to member states like India, France, Iran and the U.K.

In addition, Bangladesh is also scheduling an “extraordinary conclave of Chiefs,” a meeting of chiefs of Navy before it hands over the Chair to Iran next year, the source added.

Under the charter of business adopted in 2014, the grouping has working groups on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Information Security and Interoperability (IS&I) and anti-piracy now renamed as maritime security.

India has considerably expanded its engagement with countries to further its own interests as well as to check the rapid expansion of Chinese naval forays in the Indian Ocean. Other countries in the region are also engaged in rapid expansion of their military capabilities.

The working group’s conferences are held annually and India had chaired the one on HADR in May this year and Pakistan had chaired the meeting on IS&I in July.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/navy-to-increase-watch-over-indian-ocean/article19920741.ece

Ships will be deployed at choke points

The Navy is institutionalising an experimental concept of round-the-clock surveillance of critical choke points in the Indian Ocean. The issue was reviewed on Wednesday at the ongoing biannual Naval Commanders Conference chaired by Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba.

“The plan involves deploying mission-ready ships and aircraft along critical sea lanes of communications and choke points. These ships deployed are ready to meet any eventuality across the spectrum of operations ranging from acts of maritime terrorism and piracy to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions. These deployments are aimed to be maintained 24/7 and round the year with ships being sustained and turned around on station,” a Navy source said.

The new mission-based deployment concept was unveiled in the last Naval Commander’s Conference and was ratified for incremental implementation, in the backdrop of increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

As part of this, at least 12-15 major warships are on round-the-clock surveillance of critical choke points in the IOR, the official added.

Of late, China has increased its presence in Indian Ocean in the name of anti-piracy operations.

 

[Hindustani78]

Goa , November 02, 2017 22:14 IST
Updated: November 02, 2017 22:14 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ritime-data/article19969580.ece?homepage=true

10 Indian Ocean littoral States to benefit from initiative
India has made an offer to share intelligence of maritime movements in the Indian Ocean in real-time with 10 Indian Ocean littoral States.

This comes even as India gears up to counter China’s increased presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The information to be shared includes movement of commercial traffic as well as intelligence.

“It was very positively received,” Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba told The Hindu on Thursday at the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) when asked about the response to this proposal from the 10 littoral states present.

Indian Navy is hosting Navy and Maritime Chiefs of 10 countries of IOR at the first GMC to identify common threats in the region and evolve a mechanism on how to tackle them.

Co-operative system

India already has co-operative arrangements with several countries in the region and this initiative would see that expanding further. For instance, white shipping agreements to share commercial shipping data have been signed with 12 countries and more are in the works.

Fusion centre

“We have offered them to share real time data on movement in the Indian Ocean. Now let them review it and get them. This is not so much for conventional military purposes but to deal with non-traditional threats arising at sea,” a senior officer said.

India is in a position to be a fusion centre, the officer added and this would be based on the Navy’s nerve centre for coastal surveillance and monitoring, the Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) located outside the national capital.

Welcoming the offer, a Navy Chief of one of the Indian Ocean littorals present said all countries should pitch in equally in the effort. “It has to be done equally by all nations, small or big. We have to work out modalities for the information exchange,” he said on the sidelines of the GMC.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
22-April, 2018 12:22 IST
Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff visits Tehran, Iran for Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) – 2018

The 6th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and Conclave of Chiefs is being hosted by Iran at Tehran from 23 to 25 April 2018. The Chief of the Naval Staff is leading a four member Indian delegation for the event.

The IONS was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008. The forum seeks to enhance maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion on regionally relevant maritime issues that would lead to common understanding on the way ahead. The inaugural edition of IONS was held in February 2008 at New Delhi, with Indian Navy as the Chair for two years. This was followed by UAE from 2010 - 2012, South Africa from 2012 - 2014, Australia from 2014 - 2016 and Bangladesh from 2016 - 2018.

The IONS Charter of Business was agreed upon by the Conclave of Chiefs and brought into effect in February 2014. A relatively young forum, barely in its 10th year of existence, it has grown into a formidable organisation with 23 members and 09 observers. As the founder nation, India will also be conducting commemorative activities in November 2018 at Kochi, for celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year.

The visit of the Chief of the Naval Staff is also aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations between India and Iran and to explore new avenues for naval cooperation. Admiral Sunil Lanba will also hold bilateral discussions with the Commander IRI Navy, and other participating ‘Chiefs of Navy/ Head of Maritime Agencies’.

DKS/AC

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
12-November, 2018 19:48 IST
IONS 10th anniversary celebrations to commence today

The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Sunil Lanba,PVSM, AVSM, ADC accompanied by Mrs Reena Lanba, President Navy Wives Welfare Association(NWWA) arrived at Kochi on 12 Nov 18 for the 10th anniversary commemorative activities of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) scheduled on the 13 and 14 Nov 18 at Kochi. On his arrival at the Naval Air Station, INS Garuda, he was received byVice Admiral AK Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Southern Naval Command.

The CNS would be theChief Guest for the inaugural event, the IONS Seminar, scheduled on the 13 Nov 18 at the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre, which will be attended by Chiefs and senior representatives from the navies of the majority of member nations. He would also be Flagging Off the “Tall Ships’ Sail Together” event on 14 Nov 18.

In line with the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi – “SAGAR”(Security and Growth for All in the Region) - the theme for the 10th anniversary seminar is “IONS as a Catalyst forSAGAR”. ‘SAGAR’ is in consonance with India’s ‘Act East’ policy and the nation’s diplomatic, economic and military outreach in the region.

26 of the 32 countries which constitute the total membership of IONS would be participating in the seminar which aims to discuss maritime issues pertaining to cooperative capacity-building to deal with common security concerns in the region. The IONS initiative endeavours to generate a flow of information among naval professionals so as to enable a common understanding of regionalmaritime issues and in turn facilitate generation of mutually beneficial maritime security outcomes.

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Koc/DKS/SW107

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
14-November, 2018 19:20 IST
Retracing the Ancient Maritime Trade Routes- Tall Ship Sail-Together

The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Sunil Lanba,PVSM, AVSM, ADC along with the the Commander of Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) Navy Rear Admiral HosseinKhanzadiflagged off a Tall Ship Sail-together from naval base, Kochi on 14 Nov 18. The event which was organised by the the Indian Navy as part of the 10th Anniversary celebrations of IONS, was attended by chiefs from navies and delegates from 26 countries participating in the 10th anniversary commemorative activities besides a large gathering of Indian naval personnel.

The Royal Omani Vessel Zinat-al-Bihaaralong with two Indian NavalSailing Ships Sudharshini, Tarangini, with one each “Sea Rider” from Sri-Lanka, China, United Kingdom, Australia, Bangladesh and Maldives are participating in this ‘Sail Together’ which is planned over a distance of 1200 nm to Muscat and back. It seeks to retrace the maritime trade route of yesteryears between the Malabar Coast and the Persian Gulf. The ships were accompanied by smaller Indian sailing vessels Mhadei which would be heading towards Seychelles while the others would continue towards Muscat. A grand fly past with nine helicopters and three fixed wing aircraft was undertaken to mark the occasion.The eventcarries with it the memoriesof a glorious maritime past and the ancient cultural exchange that opened long-distance political and economic relations between thegreat civilizationsof India and those in Persia andArabia.The route also honours the socio-cultural andmaritime historythat is shared among populations across the Indian Ocean as a result of this trade.

To have Kerala as the starting point for the sail-together is both apt and befitting. Kerala’s coastal magnificence has been a legendary maritime hub for traders from across the world dating all the way back to the first century AD. Its majestic shipyards known by the iconic Urus, have been in the midst of intense ship-building and maritime trade over 1500 years. Arab traders were especially captivated by these vessels and were among the first major patrons of these boats.

The “Sail Together”would culminate with the Tall Ships being received at Muscat on 29 Nov 18.

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Koc/109/Nov 18