A change in policy in India has seen the south-Asian giant step up its support for the Sri Lankan military by supplying ‘offensive’ weapons.
In the past India had declared that it will only supply ‘defensive weapons’ to Sri Lanka. However the latest reports confirm that the island’s giant neighbour has now shifted to supplying ‘offensive weapons’ to the Sri Lankan government to fight the LTTE.
According to Indian press, New Delhi has supplied Colombo advanced automatic 40mm L70 anti-aircraft guns to guard against aerial attacks by the LTTE.
“The Ordnance Factory Board, for instance, has just received another $40,000 order for supply of L-70 gun barrels to Sri Lanka. Among other things, four ‘Indra’ low-flying detection radars have already been supplied to Sri Lanka,” the Times of India newspaper quoted a source as saying.
Playing upon India’s fears about China and Pakistan making strategic inroads into Sri Lanka, the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse has asked India to supply more air defence weapons and radars, artillery guns, Nishant UAVs and even laser designators for PGMs (precision-guided munitions).
Indian analysts believe the altering of policy by India is aimed at preventing Sri Lanka turning to Pakistan and China to meet its military need.
“Overall it looks like India is inching closer to the type of role Sri Lanka would like to see it play,” a Sri Lankan diplomat opined.
With Sri Lanka’s record of indiscriminate aerial and artillery bombardment, India has in the past always treaded a careful line with Sri Lanka, fearing that any weapons supplied by India being used to kill civilian Tamils would result in uproar in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
According to Indian press reports, an encounter between the Sri Lankan Navy and the Sea Tigers off the coast in north-eastern Talaimannar last week revealed the existence of an LTTE arms stores in India.
The LTTE ship detected by the Navy had been carrying a remote-controlled LTTE plane which military officials said was very likely to have been ferried from Tamil Nadu in India, reports further added.
The LTTE ship detected by the Navy had been carrying a remote-controlled LTTE plane which military officials said was very likely to have been ferried from Tamil Nadu in India, reports further added.
“Pressure is on Delhi to prove that it is taking tough measures against the LTTE’s terrorist activities which has an impact not only on the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, but also on that of India,” a senior Indian military official said.
Some analysts point to these military reasons as being behind India’s decision to step up its weapons supply to Sri Lanka and take a forceful stand against LTTE activities.
However, others suggest that a lack of opposition from Tamil Nadu, particularly from current ruling party in the state, the Dravida Munetra Kalakham (DMK), would have encouraged India to increase its military support to Sri Lanka.
