Deals of the Day

The Modi government is upping the game by clubbing military ties with traditional diplomacy.

- Mandira Nayar

There is, perhaps, nothing that spells love between two countries quite as much as the four-letter word—arms. And, India recently distributed armed love, abundantly.

It inched closer to Afghanistan— more helicopters are in the offing— when Afghan army chief Qadam Shah Shahim came calling. Then it enveloped Vietnam in a $500-million military hug during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Hanoi.

Defence cooperation with Vietnam is, in fact, a bold move. It is India’s most generous line of credit for defence so far. New Delhi had a $100-million ceiling, which Modi expanded by $400 million.

The message is clear: India is not afraid to flex its muscles in the South China Sea region.

It is said that the BrahMos cruise missile, which has a strike range of 290km, is on Vietnam's wish-list. While there is absolute silence about the missile (which, if purchased by Vietnam, could be a 'signal' to China), it is no secret that Vietnam has been seeking it for the past five years.

The official statements by Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, however, chose safer pastures—constructing patrol boats.

Afghanistan, too, has a wish- list. Afghan Ambassador Shaida Mohammad Abdali tells THE WEEK that General Shahim, who met the Indian military brass, has gone back “very happy’’.

“India, as always, and perhaps more than any time before, offered to help in areas where we have required assistance,” he adds.