May 31st 2002
Defence Minister George Fernandes today said the situation on the India-Pakistan border did not warrant immediate concerns regarding an impending war between the two nations.
The minister, who arrived here this morning on a four-day visit to attend the Asia Security Conference which opens tonight, told reporters, ''The troops have been on both sides in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation for the last six months, so I don't think one needs to worry just now as to what is likely to happen.'' The Asia Security Conference has been organised by the International Institute of Strategic Studies.
Mr Fernandes, who met Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Tony Tan and United States Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz earlier in the day, said, ''I think the situation is stable.''
Mr Wolfowitz earlier said a war on the subcontinent "has the potential for catastrophic consequences that would do untold damage to India, to Pakistan, to the whole world."
A spokesman for the Indian High Commission here told UNI, the minister was trying to build on an on-going cooperation between the Indian and Singapore navies.
Mr Fernandes discussed defence cooperation with his Singapore counterpart Dr Tan and reaffirmed the friendly ties between New Delhi and Singapore, he said.
The aim was to expand the ongoing naval cooperation into other areas, especially relating to terrorism, the spokesman added.
According to a Singapore Defence Ministry statement, Mr Fernandes discussed the regional security situation and issues of common concern such as terrorism with Dr Tan.
During his stay here, he will also meet Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and visit Changi Naval Base and the Armour Simulation Centre.
Indian and Singapore navies have been conducting annual exercises in India over many years, the Ministry said.
There have also been exchanges of visits between personnel of the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy, it added.
The Defence Minister is also due to meet Malaysian Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Philippine Defence Secretary General Reyes, visiting US Senators here, the spokesman at the Indian High Commission said.
He would hold bilateral meetings with several other senior defence officials visiting Singapore for the conference.
