"Indian armed forces' exercise and interaction with foreign forces are for upgrade of skills and providing them a chance to get acquainted with hi-tech weapons," Defence Minister A K Antony said on the sidelines of the Naval Commanders conference in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, one of the constituents of the Kerala government has said it is not averse to a leadership change.
Defence Minister A K Antony voiced concern over increasing ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts from across the border and said they cannot take place without the "tacit support" of the Pakistan army.
Maharashtra's beleaguered Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Saturday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi after his name cropped up in a controversy surrounding the Adarsh housing society in Mumbai. Earlier, Sonia met Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, political secretary to the Congress president Ahmed Patel, All India Congress Committee general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi and Union minister Prithviraj Chavan over the issue.
The attack on an Indian Army patrol in January, in which one soldier was beheaded, was carried out by Special Services Group of Pakistan Army, Defence Minister A K Antony told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
However, there were conflicting reports about the number of blasts as state ministers VN Vasavan and Antony Raju said there were two blasts, while Congress MP from Ernakulam, Hibi Eden, said there were multiple blasts according to one of his friends who attended the convention.
Antony on the security scenario in the immediate neighbourhood and beyond.
'Once again we have a case where a European armaments manufacturer apparently paid bribes to win a contract from India. Once again we have an honest man in the ministry of defence. Once again there is talk of contracts being cancelled to wring the truth. As a student of history,' says T V R Shenoy, 'I can only draw parallels.'
'They hate him so much that if PM Modi says the Sun rises in the east the Congress will say the Sun rises in the west.'
Seventeen members, including new and re-elected ones, took oath in Rajya Sabha, which reassembled after a month-long break, on Thursday.
Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday concluded his four-day visit to Moscow leaving for home without meeting with President Vladimir Putin. He is the second senior Indian minister to have visited Moscow in one week who the president hasn't met, the other being External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
India is pursuing with Pakistan the case of Captain Saurabh Kalia, who was tortured and killed by Pakistani troops after being captured in the Kargil sector in May 1999, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Sunday. "We are handling it in an appropriate manner. We will pursue it and now we are pursuing it with Pakistan," he told reporters after laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the 41st anniversary of India's victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan.
India and the US agreed to continue their cooperation in the areas of defence, space and clean energy as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Secretary of State Antony Blinken here, amid a simmering diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of a Khalistani separatist.
India and Pakistan have agreed to continue the dialogue in Siachen for early resolution of outstanding issues there, and have reaffirmed the resolve to make serious, sustained and result oriented efforts to seek an amicable solution, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
The Hamas terror group has over 240 hostages captivated in Gaza, according to Israeli officials, adding that a little less than half of them are civilians, and the larger deal negotiated would involve the release of all of those civilians.
"...In an era of globalisation and interdependence, the balance between the rights of States and the freedoms of the larger global community is vital for international trade and global security," Defence Minister A K Antony said in apparent reference to Chinese build-up in the area
"India wants peaceful relations with its neighbours... But we should not lower our guard and have to remain vigilant to face any challenge," Antony said while interacting with troops in the 14 Corps headquarters in Leh.
Maharashtra Congress leaders on Tuesday met at Defence Minister AK Antony's residence to discuss seat-sharing formula for the October's assembly elections. Maharashtra's Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, former chief minister Narayan Rane, Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Mumbai Congress chief Kripa Shankar Singh attended the meeting.
The issue between the Army and the Indian Air Force for controlling attack helicopters was a "family problem" and the government was in the final stages of finding a solution for it, Defence Minister A K Antony said in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The scaling up of the India-US strategic partnership to the level of non-NATO ally with defence deals, sharing and transfer of defence technology, interoperability, joint collaboration and joint production of defence equipment has exacerbated Moscow's anxiety, notes Rup Narayan Das.
Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday said all members of the Union cabinet are equal, comments that come in the midst of a stand off between the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress on issues including the Number 2 slot to Sharad Pawar.
But, at the same time, strict transparency in all arms deals will be maintained, he said.
China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not been seen in public since June 25. Is he unwell, or has he been purged?
Cautioning that modernisation of the force cannot be done in "fits and starts", government on Tuesday said it will provide all assistance to the Indian Air Force to meet its growth plans and decrease its dependence on foreign companies for major aircraft and equipment.
In a major development in the Congress, the party has formed an informal committee comprising General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi, political secretary to Sonia Gandhi Ahmed Patel and Defence Minister AK Antony to look into the party's affairs, as the Congress president will be away since she is undergoing treatment in the United States.
India is strengthening security set up in Arunachal Pradesh to enhance its deterrent capability, but there was no question of militarisation of the north-eastern state, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Tuesday.
Terming the recent leak of Army Chief General VK Singh's March 12 letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as "anti-national," Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday said he and the defence ministry would take the strongest possible action against those responsible for the leak under Indian law.
Ahead of the talks next week with Pakistan on Siachen, Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday sought to lower the expectations, saying that no "dramatic announcement or decision" should be anticipated. He said India will stick to its stand on the issue at the defence secretary-level talks in Islamabad on June 11-12
Hitting out at Pakistan for its sharp reaction on India's military doctrine, he said, "I don't know why there is this over-reaction. India is not a war-mongering country. In spite of our differences with some of the neighbouring countries, we are trying to improve our relations with them. We have no extra-territorial ambition but our concern is to protect the country's territorial integrity."
The government accords top priority to secure the international border in Arunachal Pradesh that has borders with China, Bhutan and Myanmar.
The youngest in the CWC is 31-year-old Neeraj Kundan, who is an ex-officio member of the body as the president of the National Students Union of India, the students' wing of the party.
Slamming Pakistan for not putting an end to terror groups operating from its soil, Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday said that country has allowed them to thrive, demonstrating no will to act against such outfits. He also said that the China-Pakistan military nexus is a matter of serious concern. India needs to 'closely monitor' the developments in Pakistan, he said, noting that "Islamabad must put an end to terror activities emanating from its soil."
The Quad summit to be hosted by India in 2024 is likely to enhance New Delhi's strategic intent.
The defence minister will also be on board the country's latest indigenous stealth frigate INS Shivalik and witness the live firing of lethal missiles including the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile, Defence Ministry officials said in New Delhi on Monday.
'...to prevent this episode from disrupting ongoing cooperation.' 'The discovery of this plot had the potential to derail much of what has been achieved in the relationship during this administration's tenure -- I don't think that fact has been sufficiently appreciated in India.'
Army Chief General V K Singh will have a meeting with Defence Minister A K Antony to discuss procurement projects for the army, their first official meeting days after his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the poor state of defence preparedness got leaked.
Indo-United States defence ties will not be impacted due to the issue relating to Indian diplomat Devayani Khobragade, Defence Minister AK Antony on Tuesday said.
The government on Sunday said the army has already taken strong action in the Sukhna land scam case and insisted that it will not tolerate even a single case of corruption in the armed forces."Already, the Army has taken strong action. I do not want to say anything further. We cannot tolerate even a single instance of corruption," Defence Minister A K Antony said on the sidelines of a function to present awards to the winning tableaux of the Republic Day parade.
Warning that the situation in Pakistan is 'very serious', Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said terrorism is spreading in that country and asserted that India is prepared to meet any challenge from Taliban militants. Asked if the Taliban's threat to carry out attacks on India was a cause of concern, Antony said, "We are always prepared to meet any challenge to our territorial integrity and national security from any quarter. Our security forces are vigilant."
Lessons have been learnt from the experience in the age row involving General V K Singh but there was no strain in relations between the government and the army over the issue, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Friday.
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