Russia opens military supply line for India

Hindustantimes ^ | 5/26/02 | Saurabh Shukla

[Ranger]

India's declaration of a 'decisive response' to Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism has received a big boost from its strategic partner, Russia.

Though Russian President Vladimir Putin is advocating restraint and has also offered to broker peace, Russia has reportedly begun supplying emergency military hardware to New Delhi to meet the Pakistan challenge.

Back-channel diplomacy has also resulted in Moscow extending 'logisitical support', including intelligence on PoK terror camps to Indian security agencies.

Significantly, Moscow has indicated to New Delhi that if the need arises, it will exercise its 'veto' in India's favour at the UN Security Council. During the 1971 war, the then Soviet Union had similarly acted on four occasions to prevent India from being declared the 'aggressor.'

Sources disclosed that Russia has already diverted emergency military hardware from the stocks of its Red Army. These include spares for MiG aircraft, artillery systems and other defence equipment to meet India's emergency war requirements. “To meet India's needs, we have waived off some regulations to reach material on a priority basis,” said a diplomatic source.

While agreeing to militarily back India under the 1993 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, the Putin administration hasn't evidently given up the diplomatic option. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov had earlier this week spoken to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and assured him of his country's full support.

“We have told India that war should be avoided but in case Pakistan does not respond to India's demands and a military operation happens, Moscow will play its role as New Delhi's strategic partner,” the source added.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I bet that Putin and Bush discussed this and Bush approves. Officially, Bush is working with Pakistan, but he doesn't like to be made a fool of, and Musharraf is definitely walking the line in his relations to India and his support of ISI sponsored terrorists.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Has there ever been a surrogate war between China and Russia ? Such would occur here with the Chinese supplying the Pakistanis and the Russians supplying the Indians. I don't know whether the Khmer Rouge would have been a Chinese surrogate at the time Cambodia was invaded by Vietnam.

[Fish out of Water]

*Index Bump

[xrp]

Didn't China and Russia (Soviet Union) in the 1960s have some limited skirmishes along the northern Chinese border near Mongolia?

Also China and Vietnam rumbled a little in the late 1970s, didn't they?

Does this count? :)

[DeaconBenjamin]

Sure there was the head to head stuff along the Amur River, and the Chinese clashes with the Vietnamese. I was just thinking about all of the Cold War fights between US surrogates and USSR surrogates, and wondered if there was a new paradigm at work.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Re surrogate war between Russia and China:

I can't recall one. When they presented a unified Communist front, they mostly co-operated. Another poster mentioned that Cambodia had Chinese backing when Vietnam invaded it, but that was mostly an after-the-fact sideshow. I think this would be a first. Maybe it would be significant. I've posted before that the Russians ought to ally with us--we have no desire to take over Siberia to relieve our population pressure. We'd happily pay for resources.

Historically, Russia was over-run by the Mongols before. Politics aside, I don't think they've completely forgotten. At least, I hope not.

[Ranger]

I think your right. I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't providing India with satellite imagery as well.

[newwahoo]

"Sure there was the head to head stuff along the Amur River,"

I think the Chinese-Soviet clashes were in 1967, specifically between Chinese troops and KGB border guards.

[RightWhale]

China is the wild card. America chastises Pakistan, Russia announces for India. If China comes in this could get out of hand.

[codebreaker]

ping