Indian Army, Russian Land Forces bolster defence ties at IRIGC meet in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg [Russia], June 28 (ANI): Indian Army strengthens ties with Russian Land Forces at the 4th Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) Sub Working Group (Land) meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia from June 25 to 27.
The interaction between the Two Armies focused on enhancing bilateral Defence Cooperation, including exchanges in niche technologies such as Drones, C-UAS, Electronic Warfare, and operational logistics equipment.
The event also included a visit to Mikhailovskaya Artillery Academy and the 56th Guards District Training Centre, Leningradsky Military District, the Indian Army said.
Strengthening the bilateral defence engagement further, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China.
The meeting came shortly after Singh arrived at the venue on Thursday, where he was received by Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun. Upon his arrival, Singh joined Admiral Dong and other participating leaders for a group photograph ahead of the official proceedings. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif arrived at the venue after Singh.
The SCO Defence Ministers' meeting, being held from June 25 to 26, brings together member states to discuss key regional and global security issues. The discussions are expected to focus on international and regional peace and security, counter-terrorism cooperation, and enhanced collaboration among the defence ministries of SCO member states.
In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated, 'Defence Ministry is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision towards achieving greater international peace & security, call for joint & consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism & extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting.'
India, the Ministry noted, places special importance on the SCO as a platform for promoting multilateralism and cooperation across politics, security, economy, and people-to-people ties in the region.
'SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states,' the Ministry added.
The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017 and held the rotating chairmanship in 2023. Member countries include India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.' (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
35 minutes ago
- India.com
Pakistan, China and Bangladesh planning big move against India; Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan will now be..., plan is to...
New Delhi: In a massive development for Asia, more particularly South Asia, Pakistan and China, unhappy with the India's long-standing 'boycott' of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) due to the presence of terror-sponsoring nation Pakistan are reportedly working together to establish a new regional alliance aimed at replacing SAARC by sidelining India. Readers should note that China and Pakistan now have the support of Bangladesh led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, who is seen as an anti-India leader. Here are all the details you need to know about the new China-Pakistan-Bangladesh axis. Why India is ignoring SAARC? The Republic of India started shifting its focus away from SAARC towards BIMSTEC, which is a more inclusive multi-lateral group exclusive of Pakistan after the 2016 Uri terror attack. As a result of India's change in shift, SAARC became almost dysfunctional and a result, Pakistan and China are now trying to create a new group replacing SAARC. As per media reports, the proposed group is expected to have important countries of Asia including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan along with China and Pakistan. What challenges do China-Pakistan-Bangladesh axis poses to India! In a major move towards strengthening the Bangladesh-China-Pakistan trilateral cooperation, a first trilateral meeting was held in Kunming in China's southern Yunnan province on June 19 where all three countries vowed their commitment to a 'shared' future, as per a report by IANS news agency. The IANS report written by Baidya Bikash Basu mentions that the three countries held extensive discussions on trilateral cooperation and agreed to move forward – based on the principles of good neighbourliness, mutual trust, equality, openness, inclusiveness, and shared development. Also, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that they adhere to true multilateralism and open regionalism, not directed at any third party. Readers should note that it is believed that strong pro-China and anti-India pressure groups in Bangladesh and Pakistan have been working overtime to forge a closer association with the Chinese military in order to purchase more Chinese defence equipment. (With inputs from agencies)
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Dalai Lama Set To Reveal Succession Plan Aas China Watches
Dalai Lama Successor: The Dalai Lama will attend prayers called by the Tibetan government in exile on July 5 and participate in his birthday celebrations a day later Dalai Lama Successor: The Dalai Lama will address a major three-day gathering of Buddhist religious figures this week ahead of his 90th birthday, as his followers wait for the Tibetan spiritual leader to share details about his succession in a move that could irk China. Beijing views the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist and says it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama has said his successor will be born outside China and urged his followers to reject anyone chosen by Beijing. Tibetan Buddhists hold that enlightened monks are reborn to carry forward their spiritual legacy. The 14th Dalai Lama will turn 90 on Sunday and has said he would consult senior monks and others at this time to share possible clues on where his successor, a boy or a girl, could be found following his death. 'The rest of my life I will dedicate for the benefit of others, as much as possible, as extensive as possible," the Dalai Lama told a gathering of his followers on Monday as they offered prayers for his long life. 'There will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lamas," he said, without elaborating on the framework. He has previously said he could possibly reincarnate in India, where he lives in exile near the northern Himalayan town of Dharamshala. He was identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor when he was two. Dolma Tsering Teykhang, the deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile in Dharamshala, said it was important for the world to hear directly from the Dalai Lama on the issue because while China 'tries to vilify him at every chance … it is trying to frame rules and regulations on how to have the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in their hand". 'China is trying to grab this institution … for its political purpose," she said. 'We want the incarnation of the Dalai Lama to be born not only for the survival of Tibet as a distinct culture, religion and nation, but also for the well-being of the whole humanity." Thupten Ngodup, Tibet's chief state oracle, said typically such discussions on the reincarnation do not take place when a monk is still alive but things are different now mainly because the 'Chinese government is interfering". Beijing said in March that the Dalai Lama was a political exile who had 'no right to represent the Tibetan people at all". China has said it is open to discussing his future if he recognises that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China, a proposal the Tibetan government in exile has rejected. 'AS IF HE'S NOT THERE' The religious conference this week, being held for the first time since 2019, will be attended by more than 100 Tibetan Buddhist leaders and will feature a video statement from the Dalai Lama. Hollywood star Richard Gere, a long-time follower of Tibetan Buddhism, will be among those attending, organisers have said. The Dalai Lama will attend prayers called by the Tibetan government in exile on July 5 and participate in his birthday celebrations a day later, according to a schedule shared by the organisers. He will speak at the celebrations for about half an hour. India's parliamentary affairs minister, Kiren Rijiju, and some other Indian officials are expected to attend. Tibetans have been praying for his long health, especially since knee surgery in the U.S. last year, although the Dalai Lama told Reuters in December that he could live until he was 110. The previous Dalai Lama died earlier than expected at 58. The Dalai Lama and Tibetan officials say there is a system in place for the government-in-exile to continue its political work while officers of the Dalai Lama's Gaden Phodrang Foundation search and recognise the next Dalai Lama. The current Dalai Lama set up the foundation in 2015 and its senior officers include several of his aides. Teykhang and other Tibetan officials said the Dalai Lama has been preparing his people for the day when he is gone, especially through his 2011 decision to hand his political role to a democratically elected government, ending a 368-year-old tradition of being both spiritual and temporal head of Tibetans. 'Since he has come in the form of a human, we have to agree that there will be a moment when he is not with us," said Teykhang. 'His Holiness has really prepared us for that day, he made us act as if he's not there." (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Reuters) About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter -- Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Shimla, India, India First Published:
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Dalai Lama turns 90: How will his successor be chosen and who gets to decide?
As the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday this Sunday, the question of who will succeed the Tibetan spiritual leader has taken centre stage: not just among Buddhists, but also in political circles across China, India, and the United States. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, revered globally for his advocacy of nonviolence and compassion, is also seen as a symbol of resistance against Chinese control of Tibet. With succession potentially reshaping Tibetan religious authority and geopolitical equations, the process is closely watched by world powers. According to Tibetan tradition, the soul of a senior monk is reincarnated after death, and the Dalai Lama is no exception. The current, 14th Dalai Lama — born Lhamo Dhondup in 1935 in northeastern Tibet — was identified at age two after a search party, guided by visions and signs, believed he was the reincarnation of his predecessor. When the child recognised items belonging to the 13th Dalai Lama and declared, 'It's mine, it's mine,' their doubts were settled. He was officially installed at the Potala Palace in Lhasa in 1940. The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, has indicated his successor will be born outside China. In his 2025 book Voice for the Voiceless, he wrote that further details about the succession plan would be made public around his 90th birthday. The Tibetan parliament-in-exile, based in Dharamshala, says a framework is already in place to ensure continuity of leadership. A key role in the process will be played by the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, which the Dalai Lama established in 2015 to support his religious and spiritual responsibilities. Senior aides and officers from the foundation are expected to guide the search and recognition of his reincarnation. Beijing, however, claims that its government has the authority to approve the Dalai Lama's successor, citing laws rooted in Qing dynasty-era traditions. Officials have pointed to the golden urn ritual — a lottery system introduced in 1793 — as the official mechanism to determine reincarnations within China's borders. Chinese authorities argue that any reincarnation must occur within China and follow national laws. But many Tibetans see this as a political maneuver designed to control their spiritual leadership. It is inappropriate for Chinese Communists, who reject religion 'to meddle in the system of reincarnation of lamas' the Dalai Lama has said. He has urged Tibetans to reject any candidate 'chosen for political ends… including those in the People's Republic of China.' India hosts the Dalai Lama and over 100,000 Tibetan Buddhists in exile. His presence in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala gives New Delhi a subtle but strategic advantage in its complex relationship with Beijing, reported Reuters. Many Indians hold him in high regard, and he continues to have access to Indian institutions and media. The United States has frequently voiced support for Tibetan autonomy and rights. In 2024, Joe Biden signed a law urging Beijing to negotiate on Tibet's status and reaffirming Washington's opposition to Chinese interference in the Dalai Lama's succession. US lawmakers have also made clear that any future Dalai Lama chosen under Chinese influence would not be recognised. (With inputs from Reuters)
