Afia Ambreen
The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible sale to India of military equipment comprising an integrated air defense weapon system (IADWS), the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced in a statement. The cost of the sale, if finalized, would be approximately $1.867 billion. The DSCA announcement comes shortly before an anticipated trip to India by U.S. President Donald J. Trump later this month. Trump is expected to visit India for a two-day trip between February 23 and 26, according to Indian reports. The government had asked to buy an IADWS comprised of five AN/MPQ-64Fl Sentinel radar systems; 118 AMRAAM AIM-120C-7/C-8 missiles; three AMRAAM Guidance Sections; four AMRAAM Control Sections and 134 Stinger FIM-92L missiles, as per a statement from the State Department.
On the other hand, a half-kilometer (1,640-foot) brick wall has been hastily erected in India’s Gujarat state ahead of a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, with critics saying it was built to block the view of a slum area inhabited by more than 2,000 people. Slum dwellers in the city of Ahmedabad say they have been served eviction notices by municipal authorities as the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to host US President Donald Trump on February 24. The slum is close to the Motera Stadium where Modi and Trump are expected to attend an event dubbed “Kem Chho Trump” (How are you, Trump) along the lines of the “Howdy Modi” extravaganza the US president organized for the Indian prime minister in Houston last September.
Defense ties between the United States and India have been growing in recent years. In June 2017, during their first meeting, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the “strengthening of India’s defense capabilities, with the help of USA, is something that we truly appreciate.” Over the last decade, the United States has emerged as a major defense supplier to India. India, meanwhile, is the world’s largest importer of defense equipment, accounting for some 12 percent of global defense imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s 2018 yearbook.
India has been gradually modernizing and expanding its air defense networks, but a concern for New Delhi remains its inability to integrate several major systems. For instance, if the sale of this U.S.-approved IADWS package were to be approved, Indian forces would have to operate them in isolation from Russia-procured systems like the S-400 surface-to-air missile system, which India is slated to begin receiving later this year. The S-400 and the U.S. IADWS each cover different parts of the aerial threat environment, with the Russian system covering higher-altitude threats at longer ranges. India has also been developing a range of indigenous air defense systems, including the Akash Mk1/Mk1S, both of which are in production (Akash Mk1 is operational). The Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), another indigenously developed low-altitude interceptor, is in trials. India also operates the Israeli surface-to-air Python and Debry (SPYDer) system, which covers short- and medium-range threats at low altitudes.
Pakistan expressed concerns over the deal, saying the step will disturb the peace of already volatile region. The FO spokesperson said the South Asia cannot afford a race on weaponry among the nations. She said the sale of such sophisticated weapons to India will disturb the strategic balance in South Asia with security implications for Pakistan and the region. She said defence relations between US and India are contributing to the destabilization of peace and security in South Asia. She said the international community is fully aware of India’s aggressive policy designs against Pakistan and the threatening statements of Indian political and military leadership. “It is therefore incumbent upon the international community to prevent destabilisation of the region.” She expressed concern over the continuous ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control resulting in several casualties, and said Pakistan has repeatedly warned international community of any possible false flag operation by India.
On Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), the people for almost six month of lockdown stand deprived of basic amenities of life as the valley has been turned into a largest human jail in the history. Such provocations by the RSS-inspired Bharatia Janata Party government are designed to distract the world attention from consistent human rights violations being carried out in Indian-held Kashmir. Pakistan also called upon the international community to take notice of the situation as any irresponsible act by India can prove disastrous to regional peace and stability.
Ironically, India spends huge amount of its budget on defence despite being nuclear power and continues to threaten other states by such artifices. Based on quest of India for arms race, India must see that because of these moves other states are compelled for same actions. It is spending huge amount of its defence budget without thinking what kind of bloodshed it is doing in Kashmir and how it is enforcing other states in South Asia for arms race. Pakistan surely has all the potentials to maintain balance and develop arms but as a peace loving country it has no such desire of more arms rather it believes in maintaining status quo with its nuclear armed neighbour and long awaited disputes to be resolved peacefully.
