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BIMSTEC embarrassment for India
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- Nepal, Thailand send only observers to grouping’s first joint military exercise being held in Pune- India is facing an embarrassing situation at the first ever military exercise of the regional grouping BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) with Nepal and Thailand backing out from sending full contingents.
MILEX 18 exercise
- The first field training military exercise MILEX-18, as part of the Bay of Bengal initiative for multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation (BIMSTEC) commenced at Foreign Training Node at Aundh in Pune, Maharashtra.
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- Nepal, which had initially confirmed its participation with a full contingent, pulled out in the last minute and instead sent three observers.
- The exercises were proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the BIMSTEC summit in Kathmandu last month that brought together leaders of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.
- Interestingly, while Nepal has backed off from this exercise, it is scheduled to hold its second military exercise with China next week.
- Apart from Nepal, Thailand, which was the last to confirm its participation in the exercise, conveyed that it could only send observers.
- The MILEX 18 exercise, scheduled from September 10 to 16 at the Aundh Military Station in Pune, is aimed at helping the BIMSTEC nations practise “planning and conduct of counter terrorist operations”.
- Each country was asked to send a contingent of 30 personnel including five officers and 25 soldiers in addition to three observers. However, Nepal and Thailand sent only observers.
Source
The Hindu