Bhubaneswar, March 22 (IANS) Advocating a larger role for India in the Indian Ocean region, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said India was building good relations with its neighbours and at the same time increasing its strength.
"I believe that I should have very good, strong relations with my neighbours and I am already exchanging a lot of joint exercises, discussions and training with neighbouring countries," Parrikar told reporters here.
He said the government was planning to export defence material to other countries.
"At least 38 countries are sending their defence personnel for training in India. We are encouraging them. We are giving them more slots. We are also considering supplying some sort of defence materials through export or through line of credit to the countries so that they can depend on India for their defence," he said.
Parrikar said India also believes that the best defence was in being strong.
"No one bothers about the weak, everyone takes the strong into consideration. We will build our position of strength and for which, as defence minister, we are initiating various action plans for creating a better or a higher moral security force," he said.
Parrikar, however, said the target of the nation was to build a position of togetherness on friendship, not by threat.
He said export of weapons can help strengthen countries which will indirectly ensure that peace and stability comes to the region.
Participating in an international conference here on India and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), he said India's position was very crucial in the region.
Stating that India's strength lies in non-violence, he said a strong person can dictate peace.
Parrikar urged the creation of a group of IOR countries which will deal with the traditional and non-traditional issues.
The minister said India was a country which will reach out to any neighbouring country to strengthen their coastal security and make their economy stronger.
About the proposal from the Odisha government on a Kalinga regiment, he said: "You cannot raise a regiment by caste or region. But we can help in some presence in the state.
"I would ensure that defence presence will be felt more in Odisha so that you can get more people trained, get more people in the army, employment and more production."
Corona Vaccine: Dr. Randeep Guleria said- Irregular lifestyle, not the Covid vaccine, is the reason for increasing cases of heart attack
A joint study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has revealed that there is no link between the corona vaccine and sudden cardiac
Sonu Sood On Fateh: Why did Sonu Sood make 'Fateh'? Said- he spent two and a half months in one shot
Sonu Sood's film 'Fateh' hit the theaters on January 10. This film is directed by Sonu Sood and he is also the lead actor of the film. Now Sonu has told the reason behind directing 'Fateh'. Sonu Sood
Israel-Hamas War: 'This is the time for restraint as well as dialogue and diplomacy', what did PM Modi say on the Israel-Hamas war?
Amid the Hamas-Israel conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said new challenges are emerging from developments in West Asia and the time has come for countries in the Global South to speak
Modi-Shah will also campaign for Shiv Sena in Lok Sabha elections, a list of star campaigners released
Lok Sabha Election 2024. All political parties are continuously releasing the list of their candidates and star campaigners for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Shiv Sena has also released a list of
A female spy came from China to monitor Dalai Lama!: Roaming in Bodh Gaya as a monk, police, and security agencies are searching by issuing sketches
With the arrival of the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya, the land of knowledge of Lord Buddha, a woman from China has stepped in. He is suspicious. Why and how is that woman suspicious? The answer to this
Pakistan, army and police alert to prepare to spread infection by sending corona infected to Jammu and Kashmir
Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir DIG Dilbag Singh said on Wednesday that Pakistan now wants to spread Coronavirus terror in Jammu and Kashmir. For this, Pakistan is sending Corona infected to Jammu and
Covid 2nd Wave: Now the lockdown is implemented in these districts after the night curfew, know - what did the railway say about the operation of trains?
New Delhi. Everyone is focused on the coronavirus, leaving all the issues behind in the country once again. The second wave of Covid looks extremely dangerous. In 2020, however, people were in awe of
Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Sunil Lahiri hurt by the neglect of 'Laxman', said, there will be some grace of Ram in this too
Ever since the list of invitees for the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple built at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya next month has been made public, a lot of discussions have been going on in the
DC vs GT: Rishabh Pant scored a stormy half-century against Gujarat, and broke the records of Shikhar Dhawan and Virender Sehwag.
Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant played a brilliant innings against Gujarat Titans on Wednesday and achieved an amazing achievement. Pant scored an unbeaten 88 runs with the help of 5
Zero Shadow Day: Today the shadow will leave your side… Zero Shadow Day will be held in some parts of the country including Patna
A unique astronomical event will happen today i.e. on Friday. Today at exactly noon, the shadow will leave your side for some time. Today will be Zero Shadow Day.
