With External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Mongolia last month giving a fresh impetus to the bilateral relations, India now plans to increase its engagement with its “strategic partner” in various spheres. Efforts are on to meet the deadlines set for various projects and work out new areas of cooperation.
Geographically sandwiched between Russia and China, Mongolia looks at India as its “third neighbour” not only to boost its diplomatic ties but also to push its development and growth. Sources said Swaraj’s visit to Mongolia last month has helped in generating greater warmth, goodwill and pace in relationship and India is now engaging more deeply with Mongolia while expanding areas of cooperation.
Swaraj visited Mongolia on April 25-26 for the Joint Committee meeting on cooperation. This was the first visit by an Indian Foreign Minister to Mongolia in the last 42 years, after former FM YB Chavan visited Ulaanbataar in 1976. Incidentally, despite having 60 years of diplomatic relationship with the country, Narendra Modi in 2015 became the first PM to have travelled to Mongolia.
During Modi’s visit the two sides declared a pact for “Strategic Partnership” and Modi announced a line of Credit worth $1 billion for infrastructure development in the landlocked country. Swaraj’s visit this year indicates India’s desire to keep up the momentum in relations, sources said. China, Japan and Russia are the only other three strategic partners of Mongolia which now looks at India will a high degree of expectation.
“There are several things lined up. From making a refinery to supplying parachutes, training of diplomats and media personnel, cooperation in animal husbandry, education and health — the list is long. We are trying to meet the deadlines,” sources said.
Sources added officials of the two sides are working overtime to complete the detailed feasibility study for the implementation of oil refinery plant with crude oil supply pipeline project in Mongolia. The feasibility study report is expected to be submitted this month end. The refinery will be constructed with the loC offered by India in 2015. The two sides are also exploring the possibility in mining processing.
On the strategic side, sources said the existing defense cooperation has become much more visible now. The Defence Ministers of the two sides met in March while the National Security Advisors are in close contact and the Mongolian National Security Council Secretary is expected to be in New Delhi this month. A visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh too is in pipeline.
Besides, there is an institutionalised mechanism for the interaction of border security forces of the two countries. Members of Mongolia’s General Authority for Border Protection (GABP) train with India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in capacity building, bomb disposal, special operations, weapons and tactics. In fact, this January a ten-member delegation GABP got specialised training in sniper weapon use at BSF’s Central School of Weapons and Tactics. GABP also gets specialized training in cyber security and disaster management. Both India and Mongolia share borders with China.
The militaries of the two sides conduct joint exercises - bilaterally under Nomadic Elephant and multilaterally under Khaan Quest. Sources said India is now looking at strengthening defence capabilities of Mongolia in different ways. For instance, India will be soon supplying parachutes for Mongolia’s security forces.
There are plans to have a direct flight to Ulaanbataar to help boost tourism and connectivity. This will also provide huge relief to nearly 500 Mongolian Buddhist Monks studying in India and 100-strong Indian community of business people in Mongolia. India is also expediting work on the first India-Mongolia friendship school in Ulaanbattar announced by Modi in 2015.
Impressed with the goodwill and positivity for India, sources said, Swaraj has suggested promoting Mongolia as a film shooting destination for Indian film industry. Interestingly, since Aamir Khan is a popular name in neighbouring China, his two recent films Dangal and Secret Superstar were automatically a hit among Mongolians.
“India and Mongolia have a relation without baggage and competition. Budhhism adds bonhomie,” sources said.