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Without Naming Pakistan, Quad Sends A Warning, Sets The Tone For AfPak Engagement

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Without Naming Pakistan, Quad Sends A Warning, Sets The Tone For AfPak Engagement
In a joint statement, the Quad leaders committed to deepening counter-terrorism and humanitarian cooperation in Afghanistan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington to strengthen India’s relations with the United States has taken place when President Biden’s domestic approval rating is low. According to Gallup, it has dipped to 43 per cent in the eighth month of Biden’s presidency, second only to President Trump in recent history, and largely attributed to a surge in US COVID-19 cases and the disorderly US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Biden retrospectively redefined the US objective in Afghanistan. The day after the Taliban occupied Kabul, he said that the two clear goals of the United States in Afghanistan had been “to get those that attacked us” and “make sure al-Qaeda could not use Afghanistan as a tool to attack us again.” He made some perfunctory remarks on the centrality of human rights in the US foreign policy and committed to speaking for the basic rights of the Afghan people.

Contrastingly, President Bush had declared on the day of the September 11 attacks that the United States would “make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them”. On October 7, 2001, the day Operation Enduring Freedom was launched, he had said its operations were designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations. He later elaborated that the war was “against those who seek to export terror, and a war against those governments that support or shelter them.” The Taliban’s Islamic Emirate collapsed within weeks. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the executor of the 9/11 attacks, was captured in a joint operation of the Central Intelligence Agency and Inter-Services Intelligence in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in early 2003. US special forces killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. Soon thereafter, President Obama conveyed to the Afghan leadership that the Taliban was Afghanistan’s responsibility.

No country will put itself at risk for another’s security. Yet, how nearly 20,000 US troops and contractors were stealthily pulled out the night of July 1 shocked the Afghans. Before leaving, the contractors incapacitated the electronic air defence mechanism of the critical planes and helicopters left behind ostensibly for the use of the Afghan security forces. The contractors also took away aircraft repair tools and maintenance manuals. The Afghan government capitulated to the Taliban soon thereafter.

Biden’s realpolitik-driven decision to withdraw in a disorderly manner from Afghanistan has tarnished the reputation of the United States and raised questions about its trustworthiness. In justifying the precipitate pull-out of US troops, Biden said the United States would remain focused on direct threats to the US mainland. For the rest, over-the-horizon capabilities would suffice. Biden has been reminding Americans that even as Vice President, he was opposed to the US troop surge in Afghanistan ordered by President Obama. He had famously said that he would not send his son to Afghanistan to “risk his life” for “women’s rights”. This attitude shows the United States as a fair-weather friend.

US, India And Pakistan

Terrorism and AfPak-related issues also formed part of the Modi-Biden conversation, which focused mainly on COVID-19, climate change, the Quad, and building a transformative India-US partnership. In the India-US Joint Leaders’ Statement issued after the talks, they reaffirmed that the two countries stood together in a shared fight against global terrorism, will take concerted action against all terrorist groups, including groups proscribed by the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee, and condemned cross-border terrorism. They denounced the use of terrorist proxies. In a strong message to the Taliban regime and Pakistan, they emphasized the importance of denying any logistical, financial or military support to terrorist groups that could be used to launch or plan terror attacks.

Their joint message to the Taliban was that it must abide by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2593 (2021), which demands that Afghan territory must never be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, ensure the safe, secure, and orderly departure from Afghanistan of Afghans and all foreign nationals and to respect the human rights of all Afghans, including women, children, and members of minority groups. They determined to continue to work toward an inclusive and peaceful future for all Afghans.

While the United States is sensitive to India’s concerns, its priorities in Afghanistan are distinct from India’s. It is eastward of India that convergence between their interests is closer. India’s involvement with Afghanistan was to enable the Afghan people to stand on their feet and make their own decisions. In the long term, India was hoping that the Afghan people would build a peaceful and stable nation by becoming a trade, transportation, energy, and minerals hub, connecting South and Central Asia. Both these objectives seem remote under present circumstances.

The United States has different imperatives in AfPak, as Biden has repeatedly outlined in recent statements. Though Pakistan’s double-dealing is well understood by everyone, there has been no retribution against it. India might well have to prepare to tolerate continued transactional US-Pakistan collaboration should the United States wish to retain a real military capacity in Afghanistan. Pakistan will continue to have salience for the United States, but less than it had before the US pull-out.

How Quad Will Engage In AfPak

A significant part of the Modi visit was the first-ever, in-person meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) leaders from Australia, India, Japan and the United States. From informal consultations among officials, the Quad has evolved into a formal forum of multi-level, plurilateral dialogue amongst its four members. They stress the non-strategic aspect of the group’s composition to dispel that it represents a coalition against China, whose spokesperson describes it as an “exclusive closed clique”. The Quad’s March statement following an online meeting of their leaders spoke of the four countries striving for “a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion,” without naming China. The Quad nations conduct the Malabar naval exercises, the last of which was held in November 2020.

Modi spoke of the Quad as a “force for global good” at the White House meeting on September 24. All participating countries sought to broad-base the Quad, by adopting a positive agenda comprising norms, standards, economic partnership, and pandemic cooperation. In their Joint Statement on Friday, the Quad leaders championed adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, “to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China Seas.”

Two members of the Quad were mainly engaged militarily in Afghanistan (Australia and the United States) and two (India and Japan) were involved in development efforts. With the United States disengaged from Afghanistan, how the Quad countries will engage in the AfPak region will unfold as the situation evolves. They have begun well. In Washington, they practically reiterated all that was said in the India-US Joint Statement on countering terrorism, warning Pakistan without taking its name, and their attitude towards Afghanistan. They committed to “closely coordinate” and “deepen” their counter-terrorism and humanitarian cooperation in the months ahead by following UNSCR 2593.

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’


NEW DELHI: India tested its nuclear capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), designed to have a strike range of 3,500 km, for the second time in six days on Friday. The missile test, as the one conducted on January 19, was undertaken from an undersea platform in the shape of a submersible pontoon off the coast of Andhra Pradesh according to a report by Rajat Pandit of TOI.

The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.

“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.

India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.

Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.

The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.





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After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%

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After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%


India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade

In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.

The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the upgrade. The upgrade is part of India’s efforts to improve the capabilities of its primary fighter aircraft, it refers to as the “Super Sukhoi”.

This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.

In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.





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Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace

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Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace


According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

While there is no official confirmation because of the sensitivities involved, documents suggest that the order for the same has already been placed the report further added.
There are nine countries, in turn, which have shown interest in the indigenously-developed Akash missile systems, which can intercept hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones and subsonic cruise missiles at a range of 25-km. They are Kenya, Philippines, Indonesia, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam and Algeria reported TOI.

The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.

Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System

BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.

Akash Weapon System

The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.

The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.

The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.





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