New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) Army veterans on Wednesday welcomed the defence agreement between India and Indonesia on the BrahMos Missile System, asserting that the agreement will serve as a “befitting reply” to China’s “String of Pearls” strategy, which seeks to counter New Delhi’s regional influence.

Defence expert Major General P.K. Sehgal (retd.) said Indonesia’s decision to buy BrahMos is very important as far as India’s strategy is concerned.

“Simultaneously, it boosts Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. Before 2014, India’s total defence exports were approximately Rs. 1,400 crore; today, it is approximately Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 26,000 crore. In the next three to four years, it could be approximately Rs. 50,000 crore,” he told IANS.

Lauding the missile’s use during Operation Sindoor, Major Gen Sehgal (retd) said: “Pakistan’s eleven airfields were destroyed using the missile system.”

He mentioned that India previously finalised contracts for export of BrahMos missiles with the Philippines and Vietnam.

“China is attempting to take on India by providing weapons to Pakistan and even Bangladesh. Beijing has issues with Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea and East China Sea, and these nations have been provided the missile by India, which reflects that India has replied to China in the language which it understands,” he said.

The former Army officer said that apart from BrahMos, Indonesia has bought India’s indigenous air-to-air missile for its air force “which will facilitate its coastal and maritime defence”.

Regarding the deals between India and Indonesia, including the Sabang Port deal, Major Gen Sehgal (retd) said that it gives out a clear message that “India cannot be ignored in the Indo-Pacific region”.

Echoing a similar view, Major General Sanjay Soi (retd) said that India’s BrahMos missile agreements with countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia will help it to “challenge China’s policy of expansion”.

“This means that if China is attempting to surround India through ‘String of Pearls’, then the latter is also countering through ‘Necklace of Diamonds’,” he told IANS.

The former Army officer also said that the world has been a witness to the strength of BrahMos missile during Operation Sindoor last year.

Major General Dhruv Katoch (retd.) referred to BrahMos as a “strategic weapon” and underlined that it has “significantly strengthened India’s defence relationships with other countries”.

Referring to the BrahMos deal with the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, he said: “What happens is when these countries have disputes with other nations, say China puts pressure on them, and the former does not have a system to fight back, then the pressure remains. But (now with BrahMos) they will have an option.”

However, he maintained that having a weapon does not mean that it will be used, but “in case they are attacked, the countries (to which India has sold BrahMos) will have something to reply back.”

He further said that the defence relationship between India and Indonesia will be further strengthened with the BrahMos missile system agreement.

–IANS

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