In a significant move, indicating the growing tention with Pakistan, five frontline warships of the Indian Eastern Naval Fleet have joined the Western naval warships in the Arabian Sea.
"The warships have been moved in view of the prevailing situation and to take on challenges on the seas in keeping with India's maritime interests," an Indian defense ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
“A Russian-built destroyer, an indigenous frigate and three corvettes are steaming into the Arabian Sea from the Bay of Bengal,” the source said, adding the destroyer, the frigate and two of the corvettes are capable of launching missiles.
The Indian Navy has already brought the country’s merchant navy under its flag and kept its only aircraft carrier on a state of alert in the Bay of Bengal.
The Indian Navy had carried out similar shifting of warships during the 1999 Kargil conflict. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, India's missile boats, aircraft carrier and other ships roamed the Arabian Sea, launching several attacks on the Pakistani coastal city Karachi and imposing a blockade of shipping in the area.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharazi, said his country would do "everything possible" to ease the tensions between India and Pakistan. He made these comments Wednesday following visits to both countries.
"Iran, as an important country in the region, naturally cannot remain indifferent to crises ... Iran will do everything possible to help resolve such crises," he said, quoted by IRNA.
"The current tension between India and Pakistan is the source of great danger, and we expressed our worries in our talks," said Kharazi, a day after meetings in Islamabad and New Delhi.
"We examined means to reduce tension as soon as possible because the two countries, India and Pakistan, are destined to participate in the development of our region," said the minister, whose country has called for restraint.
(Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
