Nepal: Surkhet Air Strip for Indian Air Force, Target Tibet

[gubbi]

Nepal: Surkhet Air Strip for Indian Air Force, Target Tibet

How will China react to the fresh agreement made in between the Government of Nepal and India that allows the Southern neighbor, China’s arch rival, to construct an Air Base for the Indian Air Force in Surkhet?

The Jana Disha Daily, the Maoists’ Party mouth piece dated December 7, 2009, claims that in the consultative meeting held between the representatives of the Government of India and Nepal, December 4-7, 2009, Kathmandu, the Nepali side has provided a clear go-ahead signal to India to construct the Air-Strip for the Indian Air Force.

It was earlier reported that India has already built air-strips deep inside Bhutan and an air-strip in Surkhet of Nepal will serve the Indian security interests in a much more enhanced manner, say experts.

As per the agreement the government of Nepal will have to allocate some ten hectares of lands in the area to construct the Air Strip.

It was reported that during the visit of Nepal’s Defense Minister Bidya Devi Bhandari to New Delhi in July 2009, Mrs. Bhandari had requested India to construct the Air-Strip for Nepal Army.

“The very idea of constructing an air belt in Surkhet is basically not a Nepali brain. Instead, it is the Indian mind to build an air strip right inside Nepal from where the Indian regime, should an imaginary war with China becomes a reality by 2012 as claimed by Bharat Burma, an Indian defense analyst, could pounce upon Tibet that adjoins the Nepalese border”, claim Nepal’s analysts.

Surkhet is close to the tri-junction, Kalapani, where China meets India in Nepali territory.
Nepal’s defense analysts claim that the Indian Army can strike the heartland in Tibet as and when India and China go to war.
How China reacts to this "benevolent" Nepal, gesture made in favor of India will have to be watched.
2009-12-07 09:04:06

How will China react to Surkhet Air Strip for Indian Air Force

India to resume military cooperation with Nepal

Kathmandu: India has agreed to resume military cooperation with Nepal, which was suspended following the 2005 takeover of power by former King Gyanendra, besides providing training to Nepalese security personnel as part of efforts to step up defence cooperation.

Nepal and India also agreed to share intelligence and to cooperate on constructing an airbase for the Nepalese army in the western part of the country, at the three-day joint-secretary level meeting that concluded here yesterday.

During the meeting, India agreed in principle, to resume non-lethal military supplies to Nepal as per her request, a defence ministry official said. India had suspended military cooperation after former King Gyanendra assumed absolute power and dissolved the multi-party government in February 2005.

During the Nepal-India Bilateral Consultative Group meeting held at the defence ministry here, the Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary at the ministry of external affairs, Satish Mehata, while Nepal's delegation was led by his Nepalese counterpart Arun Prasad Dhital.

India also agreed to provide training to Nepalese security personnel to upgrade their capabilities and to share intelligence for improving security, the official said.

The delegations discussed the matters of mutual interest and agreed on cooperation to construct a Nepal Army airbase in Surkhet in western Nepal, a foreign ministry statement said.

The Indian delegation also paid a courtesy call on deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sujata Koirala, defence minister Vidya Bhandari and Nepal army chief Chhatra Man Gurung.

 

[Hulk]

Good news, so finally we are getting our acts right in Nepal.

 

[hindesi]

things do seem to be falling into place with a non-maoist governement in Nepal and a India friendly government in BD and not to forget SL with the LTTE problem solved can be a great partner for India. Finally the dream of a co-operative South Asia ready to take on the world seems to be becoming a reality. But the dream can not be complete without Pakistan.. but I don't see it happening in the near future.

India with Nepal, BD and SL should cooperate economically and develop our respective nations and bring our people out of poverty and along the way fix the social issues.

Here's to a United South Asia.. a dream which we should strive for

 

[beckham]

How will China react to the fresh agreement made in between the Government of Nepal and India that allows the Southern neighbor, China’s arch rival, to construct an Air Base for the Indian Air Force in Surkhet?

The Jana Disha Daily, the Maoists’ Party mouth piece dated December 7, 2009, claims that in the consultative meeting held between the representatives of the Government of India and Nepal, December 4-7, 2009, Kathmandu, the Nepali side has provided a clear go-ahead signal to India to construct the Air-Strip for the Indian Air Force.

It was earlier reported that India has already built air-strips deep inside Bhutan and an air-strip in Surkhet of Nepal will serve the Indian security interests in a much more enhanced manner, say experts.

As per the agreement the government of Nepal will have to allocate some ten hectares of lands in the area to construct the Air Strip.

It was reported that during the visit of Nepal’s Defense Minister Bidya Devi Bhandari to New Delhi in July 2009, Mrs. Bhandari had requested India to construct the Air-Strip for Nepal Army.

“The very idea of constructing an air belt in Surkhet is basically not a Nepali brain. Instead, it is the Indian mind to build an air strip right inside Nepal from where the Indian regime, should an imaginary war with China becomes a reality by 2012 as claimed by Bharat Burma, an Indian defense analyst, could pounce upon Tibet that adjoins the Nepalese border”, claim Nepal’s analysts.

Surkhet is close to the tri-junction, Kalapani, where China meets India in Nepali territory.
Nepal’s defense analysts claim that the Indian Army can strike the heartland in Tibet as and when India and China go to war.
How China reacts to this "benevolent" Nepal, gesture made in favor of India will have to be watched.
2009-12-07 09:04:06

I didn't knew that, any more info on that ??

Thanks.

 

[mgmech]

hope this is just the start and India and other sub continent countries continues to make efforts for excellent relations with each other... It will be good for all of south asia...

China is already trying to gain access to south asia.. such moves are required and are good for India..

as for China if they complain who cares let them grumble.... India has to be assertive with china and tell them simply that we are also a power to reckon with and we have our security priroities and own strategic interests and we will fulfill them as per our needs and wont tolerate interference.....simple as it is Nepal is close to India so what we have with them is between India and Nepal.........India is a regional power and it needs to have influence in south asia and it should provide all the military assistance which is required to its small and friendly countries like in the neighbourhood.....

 

[ebungo]

One thing is very clear INDIA HAS A GREAT SAY TO HER NEIGHBOR

GREAT GOING INDIA

 

[Renegade]

Guys i dont think these news reports are accurate. For the follwing reasons:

1. Having air bases in Bhutan & Nepal will not give any additional advantage to the IAF in terms of range or any other capability. On the contrary they will be more of an liability than an asset.

2. The airbases operated by the IAF especially from the North East & UP already give the IAF the strategic penetration capability over the whole of Tibet and most of Southern China (especially Yunan Province).

3. Airbases from Nepal and Bhutan will hardly add 3 minutes of range to the existing strike capability of the IAF, which is hardy of any significance at all.

4. Airbases from Nepal and Bhutan will not justify the cost in infrastructure. Nepal & Bhutan are both mountanious countries with poor infrastructure and hard accessability. The IAF will find it very hard to first build capabilities and then operate from there, this is likely to take decades.

5. Both these countries are just a stone throws away from China, which makes it very difficult to defend bases in case of a Chinese attack. To secure these bases troop deployments will be required, which will clearly up the ante.

6. It doesnot make any strategic sense. Deployment of survelliance equipment (like radars) make some sense but airbases no sense at all.

 

[Developereo]

Why would Nepal and Bhutan make themselves targets of possible Chinese retaliation?

Economic cooperation with India is one thing, but to allow a full-on air force base doesn't make sense.

 

[Renegade]

Why would Nepal and Bhutan make themselves targets of possible Chinese retaliation?

Economic cooperation with India is one thing, but to allow a full-on air force base doesn't make sense.

Just to clarify - Bhutan has a security pact with India, under this agreement their defence is effectively Indian responsibility. If they are invaded it is India's reponsibility to come to their aid.

Though Bhutan has effectively chose to stay under Indian protection the same cant be said of Nepal. This move by the Bhutan governmnet has clearly antagonised China, which views Bhutan with contempt for not coming under its sphere of influence. The Bhutanese simply dont trust the Chinese. Inspight of having such huge influence in Bhutan, India has chose not to station any troops there.

 

[sancho]

Guys i dont think these news reports are accurate. For the follwing reasons:

1. Having air bases in Bhutan & Nepal will not give any additional advantage to the IAF in terms of range or any other capability. On the contrary they will be more of an liability than an asset.

2. The airbases operated by the IAF especially from the North East & UP already give the IAF the strategic penetration capability over the whole of Tibet and most of Southern China (especially Yunan Province).

3. Airbases from Nepal and Bhutan will hardly add 3 minutes of range to the existing strike capability of the IAF, which is hardy of any significance at all.

4. Airbases from Nepal and Bhutan will not justify the cost in infrastructure. Nepal & Bhutan are both mountanious countries with poor infrastructure and hard accessability. The IAF will find it very hard to first build capabilities and then operate from there, this is likely to take decades.

5. Both these countries are just a stone throws away from China, which makes it very difficult to defend bases in case of a Chinese attack. To secure these bases troop deployments will be required, which will clearly up the ante.

6. It doesnot make any strategic sense. Deployment of survelliance equipment (like radars) make some sense but airbases no sense at all.

An air base is not only meant for fighters, couldn't they be bases to land transport aircrafts for fast deployment of troops, arms and supplies? Or what about IAF combat helicopters?

 

[rajeev]

An air base is not only meant for fighters, couldn't they be bases to land transport aircrafts for fast deployment of troops, arms and supplies? Or what about IAF combat helicopters?

And do you really think Nepal will side with India in a war with China or would it go neutral? Just tell me! Personally, I think if a war erupts between India and China - all other countries except Pakistan will play neutral role.

What is the point of building that airport there than to build in say, Uttaranchal or Uttar Pradesh. How much time would we save?

I think if the goal is to project force, India will far better off with alliance with Japan or Taiwan and build a projectable force there!

 

[Honor]

And do you really think Nepal will side with India in a war with China or would it go neutral? Just tell me! Personally, I think if a war erupts between India and China - all other countries except Pakistan will play neutral role.

What is the point of building that airport there than to build in say, Uttaranchal or Uttar Pradesh. How much time would we save?

I think if the goal is to project force, India will far better off with alliance with Japan or Taiwan and build a projectable force there!

You are right! As a Chinese, I would piss up more if there's a Indian base in Japan or Taiwan.

 

[faithfulguy]

And do you really think Nepal will side with India in a war with China or would it go neutral? Just tell me! Personally, I think if a war erupts between India and China - all other countries except Pakistan will play neutral role.

What is the point of building that airport there than to build in say, Uttaranchal or Uttar Pradesh. How much time would we save?

I think if the goal is to project force, India will far better off with alliance with Japan or Taiwan and build a projectable force there!

Being someone originally from Taiwan, its rediculous to imaging India station troops in Taiwan. Even US needed to remove its troops from Taiwan in order to have a normal relationship with China. I do not think India would have the political ability to station troop in Taiwan. Also, India doesn't have naval ability to send troops all the way to Taiwan or Japan. If there is any navel engagement between China and India, it would be restricted around Indian Ocean. But lets hope there is no war as it would disrupt energy shipment to all East and Southest Asian countries.

If India really want to counter China, its only option is to side with US. Otherwise, it might as well follow and side with China against the US. If so, Indian might formed a China,Soviet Indian alliance.

 

[faithfulguy]

Nepal: Surkhet Air Strip for Indian Air Force, Target Tibet



How will China react to Surkhet Air Strip for Indian Air Force

India to resume military cooperation with Nepal

I see a problem at the beginning of the article already as China doesn't regard India as the arch rival. Does India regard China as an arch rival similar to that of Pakistan? Most Mainland Chinese regard US as their rival as its selling weapons to Taiwan and its conducting military operation around China. A lot of Chinese who is not into politics would not know that there is even an issue between China and India as stated in the article.

 

[Novice09]

I don't understand why each and every activity of Indian defense forces are taken as anti-Pakistan or Anti-China.

There could be some more reasons than Anti-China factor in building such infrastructure in Nepal. GOI might want to encourage and ensure that pro-Indian neighbor will remain pro-Indian.