With tensions brewing between India and China, the Narendra Modi government has granted emergency financial powers to defense forces under which they can buy any weapon systems under 66 Million dollars.
India reaches out to friendly nations, seeks early delivery of weapons
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials have been reaching out to countries including the US, France, Russia and others in an effort to urge them to deliver earlier than the scheduled date, Financial Express reported Tuesday.
Amidst crisis in Eastern Ladakh India has reached out to the friendly nations to ensure early supply in pending deals. "Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) a fortnight ago decided to reach out to all friendly nations with whom there is a defence deal either in the pipeline or getting ready to be delivered," Financial Express quoted informed sources as saying.
"While Israel is expected to send a new air defense system Iron Dome for deployment in border areas, US-based BAE Systems are expected to ship in Howitzers, more ammunition from Russia and the US."
According to Financial Express, while India has already acquired 155MM Excalibur artillery ammunition from the US, which has the capability to hit targets almost 50 km away, there is a plan to acquire more PGMs (precision-guided munitions). This can also be fired at extended ranges. In India, this is being used for M-777 ultra-light Howitzers which have been made in the US by the BAE Systems and are locally here in India.
Marathon talks of China, India Corps Commanders fail again
In other developments, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported Tuesday, Indian and Chinese militaries on Tuesday held an over 10-hour Corps Commander-level dialogue with a focus on finalizing modalities for the disengagement of troops from various standoff points in eastern Ladakh, and explored ways to ease tension in the region.
In the meeting, the Indian delegation conveyed concerns over China's "new claim lines" in the region and demanded restoration of status quo ante as well as immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso and a number of other areas, the PTI quoted Indian government sources as saying.
The talks took place on the Indian side of Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh. The Indian delegation at the meeting was headed by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh while the Chinese side was led by the Commander of the Tibet Military District Major General Liu Lin.
There was no official word on details of the meeting, the PTI said adding: It was the third corps commander-level meeting since the standoff began on May 5. In the previous two rounds of talks, the Indian side demanded immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from various areas in the region.
The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for the last seven weeks, and the tension escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15.
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