- In a big step in the backdrop of an ongoing conflict with China in eastern Ladakh, India is likely to convey toย Russiaย that its troops would not be participating in the multinational military exerciseย Kavkaz-2020ย were Chinese and Pakistani troops are also going to be there.
- The Indian authorities have also taken into account the worsening global COVID-19 situation where India alone is witnessing over 70,000 positive cases daily to take a decision regarding participation in the wargames being held in theย Astrakhanย area of Southernย Russia.
- “A high-level meeting was held in South Block in which External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat were present. After the meeting, it was discussed that it would not be right to take part in the multilateral exercise where Chinese and Pakistani military personnel would also be present,” defence sources told ANI here.
- Sources said while India is locked in a military conflict with the Chinese in eastern Ladakh and on high alert all along the 4,000 kilometer Line of Actual Control (LAC), it cannot be business as usual for us to be participating in multilateral military exercises with them.
- India and China had clashed in the Galwan valley on June 15 in which 20ย Indian troopsย had lost their lives while the Chinese also suffered a number of casualties with scores of Chinese soldiers killed and injured there.
- Sources said Indian defence minister would be visitingย Russiaย on September 4-6 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation defence ministers’ meeting but it is unlikely that the Indian representative would be holding any talks with his Chinese counterpart.
- During the meeting, India may raise the point of expansionist policies of the Chinese along the Indian border but a final decision in this regard would be taken closer to the event, sources said.
- India was invited byย Russiaย to participate in the tri-services exercise with a contingent of around 200 personnel to Southernย Russiaย in September for the multi-lateralย Kavkaz-2020.
- The exercise is being held in theย Astrakhanย province of Southernย Russiaย where member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Central Asian countries would be participating.
- Exercise Tsentr last year had the participation of India, Pakistan, and all SCO member-nations.
- India and China have been engaged in a territorial conflict in Eastern Ladakh and Sub Sector North (Ladakh) where Chinese troops have transgressed into multiple areas and are refusing to completely disengage in areas such as Finger, Depsang Plains, and Gogra heights. Both sides have amassed over 40,000 troops on their respective side of the LAC with the induction of heavy weaponry including long-range artillery and tanks.
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