Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles on Wednesday, in which the two sides agreed to work together to combat terrorism in all forms and agreed to intensify and diversify the defense industry cooperation under the Australia-India Joint Research Project.
Marrels is on a two -day official visit to India. The journey is the first time in India after his re -appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Australia.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said that the two ministers strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims. It said that Singh highlighted the right to react to self-defense against India’s right to cross-defense and described New Delhi’s works against Pakistan, non-relevant, proportional and responsible.
The Indian Express also learned that Singh alerted Marles against any possible engagement with the Pakistan Army to reach his growing defense relations with China and subsequent major technologies. Sources said that the issue of Khalistan was also raised in a bilateral meeting in terms of incidents of violence in Australia.
The Ministry of Defense said that he discussed to pursue defense science and technology cooperation projects when he meets the third India-Australia 2+2 minister meeting in Australia later this year.
He said, “He also reviewed the progress made since the last 2+2 minister dialogue held in November 2023.
The meeting provided both sides an opportunity to review the status of bilateral busyness in terms of emerging regional and global landscapes.
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“Discussions covered a wide range of issues such as defense strategic cooperation and safety, including industry cooperation, cyber and new emerging technologies, anti-terrorism, hydrography and marine security,” saying that the two sides also exchanged ideas on regional and global security issues of mutual interest.
Both sides expressed satisfaction and believed that defense India-Australia had emerged as an important pillar of cooperation on the fifth anniversary of the signature of the broader strategic partnership. The statement said, “The two countries expressed satisfaction over the growing strategic convergence between the two countries and agreed to work together towards an independent and open Indian Ocean and Pacific Island region.”
India and Australia called for their commitment to continuously strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and achieve their shared objective of peace, prosperity, stability and progress in the Indo-Pacific sector.
Earlier, Marls laid a garland in the National War Memorial and paid tribute to the fallen heroes.
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