Vietnam to train Indian Army
HANOI - The killing fields that Vietnam was for a part of
sixties and the seventies could well become a training
ground for Indian troops. Under a pact with the Vietnam
government, Indian Army jawans will be sent here for some
education and in jungle warfare.
Vietnam's claim to fame, after all, is that, despite being a
winnow of a nation, it humbled the mighty US. By way of
smaller trophies, too, it had France. And, of course, even
its fire-breathing neighbour, China, couldn't really singe it.
With such credentials in its bag, Vietnam is a natural choice
for India. Weighed down as it is by insurgency in the north
and north-east, our Jawans could do with some practical
training in Vietnam.
Not that Indian jawans are total strangers to jungle warfare.
The north-east, in particular, has been an enduring test
ground for them. But Vietnam is different - it brings to the
table the fame of the hardy Vietcong which, for most parts,
fought its war against the Americans in the jungles. India
certainly can learn a few tricks of the trade from them.
This will widen the scope of defence cooperation between
India and Vietnam, a protocol for which was signed in
1994. Defence minister George Fernandes is now here on a
five-day visit and will be at the Vietnamese army's infantry
school outside Hanoi on Tuesday.
The thumb-sized nation wants to buy Indian defence
equipment, including small and medium arms. On its part,
India has offered to supply fast patrol boats, which Vietnam
needs to guard its maritime rights. China, among other
neighbours, has long-standing maritime disputes with
Vietnam.
By Man Mohan - The Times of India - March 28, 2000.
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