'Russia not taking defence interaction with India seriously'

RUSSIA-INDIA
From Vinay Shukla
Moscow (PTI) A top Russian defence expert has said
Moscow is not taking defence interaction with India seriously
and described the cancellation of a naval drill recently with
it as "simply stupid".
"While other nations wait in the 'q' to develop military
interaction with India, Russia is behaving not seriously.
There is no need to be surprised that India is more and more
turning towards western partners – at least more serious and
stable," Mikhail Barabanov, editor of Moscow Defence Brief
monthly, was quoted as saying by financial daily 'Vedomosti'.
"The Russian decision to cancel war games with the main
military-technical partner is simply stupid," he said.
The annual naval exercise between India and Russia took a
hit in April after the Russian side cited engagement of their
ships in rescue operations in the Tsunami-hit Japan. A sea
phase exercises was not carried out, but other drills
happened.
Following the communication from Russian Navy, a decision
was taken to dispatch the Indian warships only for a port call
at the Russian port Vladivostok.
The Russian Army has also intimated its inability
to host Indian military for war games this month in Russia
under the 'Indra' series.
Barabanov also noted he Russian and Indian air forces
have never carried out joint drills, "probably because the
Indian pilots on their Russian built Su-30MKI fighters will
easily win over the Russian pilots, with inferior aircraft and
less flying experience."
"It is noteworthy that Indian pilots with Su-30MKI
fighters have participated several times in joint drills USAF
and other major Western nations."
Another major daily 'Nezavisimaya Gazeta' notes the
Russian decision to cancel a war drill at the last moment is
believed as Moscow's "snub" to India for rejection of MiG-35
fighters in the IAF’s tender for 126 medium multi-role combat
aircraft (MMRCA), in which French Rafale and European
Eurofighter Typhoon have been short listed.
Tatiana Shaumyan, director of Centre for Indian Studies
of the Science Academy’s Oriental Institute, said the "poor
planning" of the Russian side may be detrimental to the
defence cooperation.
"Russia and India have several decade long traditions of
geopolitical, trade, economic and defence cooperation.The
military-technical cooperation had been the one of the main
pillars of the Russian-Indian relations. And now in this
crucial sphere a ‘snag’ has occurred probably due to bad
planning by the Russian side," Shaumyan said.
She cautioned that it could affect the interaction of
armed forces of the two "friendly states".