Indian Navy a preferred security partner for its maritime neighbours: President

 Synopsis

Speaking at the ceremony where the Navy's 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron was presented the President's Standard honour for its service, Kovind said the naval squadron has been deployed for a multitude of operations.

He said the Navy has been successfully safeguarding the country's extensive maritime interests with resolve and tenacity.

The Indian Navy is looked upon as a preferred security partner by the country's maritime neighbours and it has a huge role to play in furthering India's foreign policy in protecting the national interests, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Wednesday. Speaking at the ceremony where the Navy's 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron was presented the President's Standard honour for its service, Kovind said the naval squadron has been deployed for a multitude of operations.

"They are not only securing the country's maritime borders through mission-based deployments but also undertake diplomatic missions in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf and anti-piracy operations.

"Our nation is a maritime nation and our navy has a huge role to play in the furtherance of our foreign policy and in protecting our national interests and commercial aspirations," the President said.

He said the Navy has been successfully safeguarding the country's extensive maritime interests with resolve and tenacity.

The emerging geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific region present India with an opportunity to play a pivotal role, the President said.

He said a large share of global maritime trade transits through the Indian Ocean Region. Therefore, maintaining peace and tranquillity in this region is of paramount importance, not only for the country but also for the entire global community.

"Today, as one of the largest navies in the world, the Indian Navy is looked upon by our maritime neighbours as a preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean region," he added.

He said the Indian Navy has invested significant effort in meeting all regional commitments and furthering our engagements with partners in the Indo-Pacific.

The President also lauded the Navy's efforts to render assistance to the people during humanitarian crises or natural disasters, within the country and beyond.

The Navy played a critical role in the repatriation of Indian citizens during COVID-19 and rescue operations during cyclone Tauktae, he observed.

New Zealand defence forces warn of rising threat from China in Indo-Pacific

 Synopsis

​​Growing strategic competition between China, which is New Zealand's biggest trading partner, the United States and other powers will also boost potential for confrontation and conflict in the region, a defence assessment report for 2021 said.

Agencies

New Zealand has publicly expressed its concern over developments such as the building and militarisation of features in the South China Sea, the report added.

New Zealand's defence forces warned on Wednesday of the security threat from an increasingly powerful China as it assertively pursues its interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

Growing strategic competition between China, which is New Zealand's biggest trading partner, the United States and other powers will also boost potential for confrontation and conflict in the region, a defence assessment report for 2021 said.

"New Zealand faces a world in which strategic competition is increasingly the background for states’ relationships," the report said, adding that China’s rise was the major driver of such competition.

Even in the absence of open conflict, strategic competition would play out across arenas from space to cyber space in ways that will threaten New Zealand’s security, said the report, which is made every five years.

"This is true of both the wider Indo-Pacific and New Zealand’s immediate region."

New Zealand has publicly expressed its concern over developments such as the building and militarisation of features in the South China Sea, the report added.

One of the biggest possible threats New Zealand could face would be the setting-up of a military base or dual-use facility in the Pacific by a state that did not share its values and security interests, the report said.

"Washington’s delivery on this commitment, over both short and longer terms, will be important in determining the future for this region, including New Zealand's own neighbourhood," the report added.

India successfully test-fires air version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile off Odisha coast

 Synopsis

India on Wednesday successfully test-fired the air version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the integrated test range of Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha, sources in the DRDO said. Describing the mission as a "major milestone" in the development of BrahMos, the sources said that the air version of the missile was test-fired from supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I at 10.30 am.

India on Wednesday successfully test-fired the air version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the integrated test range of Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha, sources in the DRDO said. Describing the mission as a "major milestone" in the development of BrahMos, the sources said that the air version of the missile was test-fired from supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I at 10.30 am.

The "copy book flight" followed the pre-planned trajectory and met all objectives, the sources in Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said.

The launch has cleared the way for serial production of air-version BrahMos missiles, they said.

Congratulating the teams involved in the flight test, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, the secretary in the department of Defence Research and Development and chairman of DRDO, said various laboratories at the premier agency, academic institutions, public sector undertakings and Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the testing, production and induction of this complex missile system.

The DRDO had on Tuesday flight-tested the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile, which will boost the capability of Indian Navy.

96 civilians, 366 terrorists killed in Kashmir post Article 370 repeal: Govt

 Synopsis

At least 96 civilians have been killed in Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370 while 366 terrorists have been neutralised by security forces, the government informed Rajya Sabha

At least 96 civilians have been killed in Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370 while 366 terrorists have been neutralised by security forces, the government informed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also said that "no Kashmiri Pandit/Hindu has been displaced from the valley" post the repeal of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

"However, recently some Kashmiri Pandit families, mostly women and children, living in Kashmir have moved to Jammu region.

"These families are of govt. employees, many of whom, move to Jammu in winter as part of movement of officials and the winter vacation in educational institutions," the minister stated.

Replying to another question, Rai said a total of 96 civilians, 81 security forces personnel and 366 personnel were killed in Kashmir since the repeal of Article 370 till this November.