India to sign $2.7b arms deal with Russia, Israel

[sonicboom]

India to sign $2.7b arms deal with Russia, Israel

Ashraf Javed
July 02, 2010

LAHORE – Following violent and deadly strikes by Maoists against India’s security forces that shook the Indian government in the recent past, New Delhi has sought Israel and Russia’s help to combat homegrown insurgency.

‘India has finalised $1.2 billion arms deal with Russia and $1.5 billion with Israel to equip its security forces with sophisticated weapons. This (deal) will enable its security forces to fight insurgency,’ highly-placed sources stated on Thursday.

A top Afghan government official, who recently visited New Delhi and spoke on condition of anonymity, said that New Delhi would sign the agreements in this regard before the end of this month.

The sources believed that New Delhi was confident Washington would not object to the arms deal, as India was in dire need of sophisticated weapons to launch full-scale military operation in the densely forested Maoist-controlled states.

‘Though the relations between America and the Russia are tense after the US intelligence agencies smashed the Russian spy network by arresting 11 undercover agents during a successful operation, the US will not object to the arms deal,’ said a Calcutta-based defence analyst.

According to him, more than 70,000 troops are already involved in anti-Maoist operation that is in process across five states - West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. He observed that the military operation would be very tough as Indian forces are already engaged in Occupied Kashmir, Assam, etc.

Defence pundits believe that Indian security forces particularly the police are facing serious problems in the forest areas of Chhattisgarh as the Maoist rebels have laid excessive landmines in these areas. ‘The Indian police have no technology and resources to de-mine the massive forested pockets,’ they added.

On the other hand, Indian Home Ministry has ordered strict monitoring of arms supply to the forces after the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force arrested six persons, including two serving CRPF jawans and a retired sub-inspector for stealing arms and ammunition and supplying the same to Naxals.
Though the Naxalites have the will and the determination to fight the Indian Army for their just cause, New Delhi is all set to close the chapter of Naxals once for all.

Independent observers say that a major human tragedy in Naxal-hit areas of India may take place any time soon.

It is important to mention here that the Maoists, also known as Naxalites, carried out several deadly attacks and killed more than 150 Indian soldiers during the last three months.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had termed Naxals movement the most serious threat to India’s security since independence.

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