INDIA TO COUNTER CHINESE INVESTMENTS IN NEIGHBORHOOD
The Indian government is reportedly circulating blueprints on how to counter Chinese investments in sensitive infrastructure projects in neighboring countries. In recent years, China has managed to secure a number of communications deals in countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Maldives. The investments, ranging from telecommunications projects to satellite programs, have the potential to offer China access to communications networks. The draft document proposes that India enhance its regional diplomacy and encourage Indian telecom companies to compete with their Chinesec counterparts for sensitive deals. (The Hindu Business Line, March 18, 2013)
TURKEY, PAKISTAN HOLD JOINT DRILL
Turkey and Pakistan participated in joint military exercises in the Pakistani province of Punjab during the first half of March in maneuvers aimed at improving military-to-military cooperation. The Turkish Air Force sent five F-16’s and a tanker aircraft to participate in the exercises, dubbed “Indus Viper 2013.” Last November, Turkey and Pakistan participated in a 10-day joint naval drill, Mavi Baline-12, off the coast of Turkey with other regional navies. (Hurriyet, March 18, 2013; FirstPost, November 4, 2012)
TENSIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN PAKISTAN, INDIA
The seizure of 55 Indian fishermen by Pakistani authorities is the latest in a series of escalations between the two nuclear-armed rivals. It marks the second time in a week that Pakistan has apprehended Indian fishermen, with 17 Indian fisherman being taken into custody earlier in March. In both instances, Pakistan accused the fishermen of violating the country’s territorial waters. Also, last Wednesday militants attacked an Indian paramilitary base and school in Kashmir killing five soldiers and wounding at least 10 others. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, initial speculation points to the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has been allowed to operate with impunity in Pakistan despite being officially banned by the government. Tensions between Pakistan and India have remained elevated following the deaths of four Pakistani and two Indian soldiers in mid-January of this year in the worst outbreak of violence along the Line of Control in the past 10 years. (The Guardian, March 13, 2013; NDTV, March 17, 2013)
INDIA CALLS OFF DEFENSE TALKS WITH SRI LANKA
On March 18, India called off its annual defense dialogue with Sri Lanka, caving to pressure from ethnic Tamil parties within India's ruling coalition. While no official reason was given for the cancellation, Indian Tamils have become increasingly agitated by Delhi’s ongoing relationship with Sri Lanka, which they have charged with conducting war crimes against Sri Lanka's Tamil minority during the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. The military relationship between the two countries now consists primarily of the training Sri Lankan soldiers in India. In the past the government of Manmohan Singh has tried to blunt criticism by shifting joint training exercises to the north from Tamil-populated regions in the south.
The cancellation of the dialogue was not enough to prevent a large Tamil party, the DMK, from pulling out of the ruling coalition a day later. The move was billed as a response to the government's "perceived dithering" on a UN resolution regarding Sri Lankan war crimes. The ruling coaltiion has lost its simple majority but with the support of non-coalition parties the government is in no direct danger of falling. (Times of India, March 18, 2013; Reuters March 19, 2013)
MYANMAR, INDIA LAUNCH JOINT NAVAL EXERCISES
In a sign of growing defense cooperation after two decades of relative estrangement, Myanmar and India conducted joint naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal earlier this month. According to officials from the Indian Defense Ministry, a friagate and corvette from Myanmar made a port call at the Indian naval base at Vishakapatnam before participating in "first-ever" joint naval exercises and coordinated patrols. (Mizzima, March 11, 2013)