Even as India’s indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) for the Navy will be “launched” on August 12, defence minister A.K. Antony on Saturday made it clear that India has every right to build border infrastructure on its soil and added that India and China had decided that “status quo ante” at the border between the two countries would be restored to what it was before April 15.
This agreement had led to the end of the recent “stand-off” between troops of the two countries in eastern Ladakh which had earlier sparked a “crisis”.
Speaking to reporters in Goa after the commissioning of the first squadron of the naval MiG-29 K “supersonic air dominance” fighter aircraft, the minister said the process of border negotiations between the two countries was on. Interestingly, Mr. Antony said that India has to maintain an edge in defence preparedness over its adversaries but when asked who these were, he said, “The whole country knows.” The minister also said the Army and the paramilitary ITBP would be working “closely” with each other (in patrolling the Line of Actual Control) and further specified that he did not envisage any major problem in co-ordination.
The Army wants operational control over the ITBP but this could be ruled out for now.
The minister made it clear that in terms of both border infrastructure and military weaponry and equipment, India would do everything to protect its interests. The minister also announced that the IAC would be launched on August 12. This means that the IAC — that India is building — will be “put out to water” on that date, a significant milestone ahead of induction in about five years. Sources indicated that India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant would also be made operational later in 2013. India will also acquire the Gorshkov aircraft carrier from Russia by December in 2013.
On Saturday, India also commissioned the first squadron of the MiG-29 K naval fighters — titled the Black Panthers — at Goa. India currently has 16 of these fighter aircraft that were acquired earlier from Russia and will acquire 29 more of these aircraft. The MiG-29 K aircraft will operate from the Gorshkov aircraft carrier which was earlier rechristened the INS Vikramaditya by the Navy.
On the occasion, the minister also said the defence relationship of India with Russia was “solid” and praised Russia as a “tested friend”.