Iran funding Lankan arms purchases from Pakistan & China

[BanglaBhoot]

Its these damned Indian sensitivities that have messed up South Asia. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan all have sensitivities but does India give a damn? Why the hell should these countries care what India thinks? Sri Lanka is fighting a civil war so India's sensitivities have nothing to do with it especially if it prevents the SL army from achieving its objectives.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

are the ltte created by india???

More or less .....

The Indians had a significant input in the LTTE until it started creating problems in Tamil Nadu and with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. Both were serious cases of blowback.

 

[Goodperson]

Its these damned Indian sensitivities that have messed up South Asia. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan all have sensitivities but does India give a damn? Why the hell should these countries care what India thinks? Sri Lanka is fighting a civil war so India's sensitivities have nothing to do with it especially if it prevents the SL army from achieving its objectives.

Back to ranting without substance.

 

[Goodperson]

More or less .....

The Indians had a significant input in the LTTE until it started creating problems in Tamil Nadu and with the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. Both were serious cases of blowback.

Mr self proclaimed Learned Lawyer/Teacher please educate how LTTE was created as asked, ranting can be saved for later.

 

[nitesh]

You are avoding the basic point. i am asking you again tell me by allowing few radar operators do you think India is truely helping Sri Lanka while at the same time India is refusing sale of weapons to Sri Lanka why????

Are you serious? You don't know what radar does? If there is some sale blocked by india that's because of DMK supports LTTE. It is as simple as the nuclear deal was getting blocked by CPM. This is democracy. But end of the day India is supporting sri lanka in fighting those rebels. That's it.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

No actually Bangladesh had its own problems with an Indian backed insurgency in the CHT during the 1980's and early 90's. Bangladesh clearly understands the situation of Sri Lanka. I think Pakistan is facing the same problem of Indian interference in Balochistan. My answer to India is that they can go to hell and take their sensitivities with them. India has done enough damage in South Asia.

 

[Goodperson]

No actually Bangladesh had its own problems with an Indian backed insurgency in the CHT during the 1980's and early 90's. Bangladesh clearly understands the situation of Sri Lanka. I think Pakistan is facing the same problem of Indian interference in Balochistan. My answer to India is that the y can go to hell and take their sensitivities with them. India has done enough damage in South Asia.

Read post# 33.

 

[was]

it,s an old article

The love triangle of Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan


RECENTLY at a reception on board Shahjahan, a Pakistani frigate that called at the Colombo Port, an official of the Pakistani embassy asked me why the media did not give much publicity to Pakistan`s help for Sri Lanka.

However much I tried to explain or rather defend the Sri Lankan media by pointing out instances where newspapers had carried articles on Pakistan`s tsunami relief and other assistance, the official was not convinced. For he was making a comparison with the exposure India got in the Sri Lankan media.

His complaint points to a factor that has come to shape the diplomatic relations involving India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. There has been an Indo-Pakistan cold war over Sri Lanka. The relations involving the three nations could even be likened to a love triangle. In this love triangle, Pakistan`s position is that of the lover who does everything he can to woo the girl but finds that the girl loves or is compelled to love his rival.

Pakistan probably understands Sri Lanka`s position, given the geo-strategic realities and domestic compulsion that have made Sri Lanka to maintain close ties with India. But it wants to be noticed more and score more points than India in Sri Lanka. This has put Sri Lanka in a diplomatically awkward position. Every time, the Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations go up few notches, India frowns. So we prepare in advance to console or reassure India whenever Sri Lanka moves closer to Pakistan.

This diplomatic game surfaced again last week when Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse made a three-day visit to Pakistan. A joint statement said the leaders of the two countries agreed to intensify cooperation in defence, science and technology, trade and tourism.

Obviously, the word `defence` in the joint statement is not to the liking if India, although it is not unaware of Colombo`s defence cooperation with Pakistan which remains a key weapons supplier to Sri Lanka. Pakistan also provides advanced training for Sri Lankan soldiers. Besides, it is no secret that Rajapakse`s delegation to Pakistan included Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the President`s brother. Sri Lanka is aware that its courtship with Pakistan is subjected to India`s tolerance level.

So Sri Lankan policymakers, who are uncertain whether they had gone beyond India`s tolerance level, are sending a high-level delegation to New Delhi this week to reassure India. It is just like our allegorical girl reassuring her boyfriend that her date with the other boy was only a friendly chat and nothing untoward had happened. But Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations have always been on a solid footing with Sri Lankans generally viewing Pakistan as a friend in need and friend indeed. N Godage, a former Sri Lankan diplomat said in a recent newspaper article that he could boldly say that `Sri Lanka today remains an undivided country, thanks to the military support it received from Pakistan` ? particularly in 2000 when the Tamil Tiger rebels were poised to take Jaffna and announce a unilateral declaration of independence.

It was Pakistan-supplied multi-barreled rocket launchers that tilted the military balance in Sri Lanka`s favour in that year when India showed reluctance to assist us militarily. Probably it was Pakistan`s way of doing something in return for our favour in 1971 during the Bangladesh war. Sri Lanka defied India and allowed Pakistan civilian aircraft to fly via Colombo to Dhaka though it was aware that Pakistan was using these aircraft to transport military personnel.

Since Independence, Sri Lanka`s foreign policy making has been influenced by not only the global balance of power but also the regional balance of power that involves India, Pakistan and China. Sri Lanka`s relationship with Pakistan, established soon after our Independence in 1948, began on an open and friendly note as opposed to that of India.

About India, our early leaders had entertained great suspicion. Sri Lanka`s first prime minister D S Senanayake felt that the most likely threat to our independence could come from India and this fear perception became the dominant strand in his foreign policy. Their fear was fuelled by utterances made by Indian leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramaya and K M Panikkar in the mid 1940s who suggested said that Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was then known) would inevitably drawn into a closer union with India presumably as an autonomous unit within the Indian federation.

It was to counter the threat from our gigantic neighbour that Senanayake signed an important defence agreement with Great Britain in 1948, allowing our former colonial masters to maintain two military bases in Trincomalee and Katunayake.

This fear was the foundation, upon which are built Indo-Lanka relations marked by their ups and downs. But in a relationship between a small and weak country and a big and powerful country, prudence recommends collaboration rather than confrontation. So the small fish swim as close as possible to the big fish to avoid being swallowed.

Sri Lanka WORLD:: The love triangle of Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan

 

[was]

Gilani: Pakistan will always meet Lanka's defence needs
By Ameen Izzadeen

* Some observers believe that one of the reasons for the slow progress of SAARC is the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. Besides, Afghanistan, the newest SAARC member, accuses Pakistan of not doing enough to stop cross-border terrorism. Do you believe SAARC could emerge strong like the ASEAN or the EU despite these problems between member states?

Pakistan and India have initiated the composite dialogue process to resolve all outstanding issues including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir through political process. Pakistan is participating actively in SAARC processes and would like to see its emergence as a strong regional entity.

* Pakistan's relations with Sri Lanka have been excellent. Will there be greater defence and economic cooperation between the two countries under the new government you are heading?

Our government wants to see enhanced cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in every field of life so that people of both countries could benefit.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at the BIA on Friday.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have traditionally enjoyed close defence cooperation including military training.

Sri Lanka is the largest recipient of free military training from Pakistan as its armed forces annually avail around 250 to 300 vacancies for various training courses in Pakistan. In addition, Pakistan has always been forthcoming in helping Sri Lanka meet its defence requirements.

Sri Lanka is the first country with which Pakistan entered into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Since its operation, bilateral trade received a boost.

To enhance the bilateral trade, there is, however, a need for an early inclusion of services and bilateral investment in the FTA. In this way, Pakistan's expertise in banking, finance, insurance, gas and petroleum exploration, road development, and telecommunications, higher Education, pharmaceuticals and Sri Lanka's capability in the hospitality, retail marketing and apparel sectors can be combined for collaborative linkages and joint ventures.

* How do you respond to India's concern over Sri Lanka’s military purchases from Pakistan and China?

Being a sovereign country, it is up to Sri Lanka to make decisions in its best interests. Our relations with Sri Lanka are based on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. This time tested relationship is free from outside interference.

Gilani: Pakistan will always meet Lanka's defence needs

 

[Goodperson]

* How do you respond to India's concern over Sri Lanka’s military purchases from Pakistan and China?

Being a sovereign country, it is up to Sri Lanka to make decisions in its best interests. Our relations with Sri Lanka are based on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. This time tested relationship is free from outside interference.

Gilani: Pakistan will always meet Lanka's defence needs

Thanks for confirming, It should help other posters.

 

[anand]

Totally different point of view in the article pasted below.


------------------------------------------------
Is India in Sri Lanka’s pocket ?


A former Chief of the Indian secret intelligence service, B.Raman ,sometime ago declared that an Air Force Pilot of Pakistan based in Sri Lanka was participating in the attacks launched on the Tamil Tigers from Sri Lankan Air Force bases. It is also no secret that China has been supplying necessary arms and weapons to Sri Lanka to fight the war against the Tamil Tigers.

When the LTTE planes attacked the Air Force base in Vavuniya last week ,and two Indian Nationals sustained injuries , it became very evident that India too is directly involved in the war against the Tamil Tigers. When seen against this background , it is deducible that the super powers of Asia are united in the war against the Tamil Tigers. In other words , Sri Lanka, China, India and Pakistan stand united to fight the war against the Tamil Tigers. What is specially noteworthy in this is , the two countries , China and India who are arch rivals in the race for leadership in Asia ; and India and Pakistan who are involved in a bitter power struggle between them in South Asia have all got together as one outfit to fight the war waged against the Tamil Tigers.

Tamil Nadu Bharathiya Janatha Party Leader , once asked the Congress Govt. whether the Govt. of India granted a soft loan to Sri Lanka to purchase arms from China.? Although India’s Congress Govt. did not give an answer to this question , it is a matter of perturbation why India released funds to Sri Lanka to purchase arms from China , the country which manifestly poses a grave threat to India ?

Some view this as India’s overwhelming desire to destroy the Tamil Tigers , and if India is to provide arms to Sri Lanka , there will be a public outcry against it in Tamil Nadu. It is therefore, in order to avert this situation , India released the loan to Sri Lanka to procure the arms from China, and combat the LTTE.

It is difficult to comprehend the motive of India which does everything possible to divert China from eyeing South Asia , is bringing China increasingly close to Sri Lanka on the ground that it is to destroy the LTTE . It is also inconceivable why India which does not brook Pakistan’s domination in South Asia is aligned with Pakistan in relation to the war against the Tamil Tigers .

Pakistan too extended aid to Sri Lankan Air Force to destroy the LTTE . When the Sri Lankan Air Force with the assistance of the Pakistan pilots launched attacks on the Tiger bases which harmed the civilians provoked the indignation and protests of the Tamil Nadu and India’s Opposition parties, the Indian Congress Govt. however, without heeding the protests helped to protect the Sri Lanka civil population and the Air Force bases from the LTTE aerial attacks. India providing Radar equipment to Sri Lanka to facilitate these protective measures is also no secret to Tamil Nadu and India’s opposition parties. When Tamil Nadu party Leader, Vaiko demanded from the Congress Govt. for the withdrawal of the radar equipment , the Indian Govt. explained thus : they had to take this step because the Sri Lanka Govt. would otherwise procure the radar equipment from China , in which case it would spell danger to India .; the other reason is that there was danger to India too from the aerial attacks of the LTTE , and therefore India had to intervene and give protection to Sri Lanka’s Air Force. The Nuclear power reactor complex of India which is being built with Russian aid is situated in Tamil nadu. Safeguarding Tamil Nadu from the aerial attacks of the Tigers is therefore of paramount importance. The Sri Lankan Govt. was provided with the radar equipment by India with this in view –the protection of the air space of Tamil Nadu. It is on this account , the Tamil Nadu and Opposition parties ceased questioning further on this issue.

However, after learning that India’s engineers have come here, and are in the Air Force bases in the North East of Sri Lanka to operate the radar , Indian Opposition and Tamil Nadu parties have begun raising their objections and protests against the Technical experts and army personnel based in the North East , in the war against the Tamil Tigers. The Secretary of the Indian Communist party too has levelled accusations against the Indian Congress Govt. that it is assisting Sri Lanka in the war while deceiving the Indian people by lying that it is not. At the same time, Vaiko has asserted that India’s Defence advisor, Narayanan is plotting a conspiracy jointly with the Sri Lankan Govt. against the Tamil population. He adds that there are 265 in total of Indian Technical experts and Forces personnel in Sri Lanka assisting in the war .

If Vaiko’s allegations are true , this is the second of Indian Army’s visit to Sri Lanka. On the first occasion in 1987 , they came in openly . But, this time they have come secretly and in batches.

In relation to the Indian Govt.’s support to the Sri Lankan Govt. in the war , Vaiko pointing an accusing finger directly at India’s Defence Advisor is a very serious matter. He is squarely blaming Narayanan as responsible for conspiring with the Sri Lankan Govt. against the Tamil population. If these accusations of Vaiko are factual , it is the Sri Lankan Govt. which should receive the credit ,meaning that the Sri Lankan Govt. jointly with the Asian powers ,China and Pakistan , waging the war against the Tamil Tigers has been able to successfully exploit Narayanan’s inveterate hatred of the LTTE and also enlist India’s assistance.

Grouping the three countries together to fight a single war is a most difficult task. If Pakistan is supportive of a particular faction, India always takes the position which will support the party that is diametrically opposed . This opposition between them has been witnessed in many instances in their power struggle in the South Asian region. In the same way , if China sides with a faction , India will only support the opposing faction .

Nonetheless, in the war against the Tamil Tigers , China, India and Pakistan stood united in their support for the Sri Lankan Govt. Viewed from this standpoint, it is an Asian war against the Tamil Tigers. Hence, it is a wonder , how Velupillai Prabakaran is still remaining safe in the midst of this war involving the Asian powers?At all events,whether India directly intervened in this war to minimize the involvement of China and Pakistan , or to join them and ward off the Tamil Tiger threat is a question beyond answer, at least for the moment.

Sri Lanka Breaking News-Daily Mirror Online

 

[Contrarian]

It is the IN that is stoping the LTTE from kicking a$$ in Sri Lanka. All their arms supplies and money transit routes have been blocked by IN. The day India wants LTTE to fight back, i assure you, it will. India cannot actively assist in fighting the LTTE for sensitivities in the South.