drkhalsa
SPNer
- Sep 16, 2004
- 1,308
- 54
India's response to tsunami raises its stature: US daily
Washington, Jan. 20 (PTI): India's effective response to the tsunami disaster at home and its major role in helping neighbouring countries has underscored its emergence in recent years as "an increasingly potent diplomatic and economic power," a leading American daily said today.
Besides this, "it has also highlighted the growing capability of the Indian military as well as its improving ties to other major powers with interests in the region, particularly the United States," The Washington Post said.
India's military, it noted, is helping in Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia.
Earlier this month, the paper said, the USS Bonhomme Richard, a Navy helicopter carrier, was steaming towards Sri Lanka to augment US forces helping survivors of the December 26 tsunami when it suddenly changed course for Indonesia. Additional US troops were no longer needed in Sri Lanka because the Indian military had been dispatched to help.
Over the last three weeks, the paper noted, India has deployed 14 ships, nearly 1,000 military personnel and several dozen helicopters and airplanes to its devastated island neighbour.
"There was a spontaneous desire on the part of India to help," India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Nirupama Rao, said.
Moreover, she said, "we had the resources and capability to effect that kind of response."
Although India still accepts some foreign aid, said The Post, such help is declining in importance with the country's rapid economic growth.
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Washington, Jan. 20 (PTI): India's effective response to the tsunami disaster at home and its major role in helping neighbouring countries has underscored its emergence in recent years as "an increasingly potent diplomatic and economic power," a leading American daily said today.
Besides this, "it has also highlighted the growing capability of the Indian military as well as its improving ties to other major powers with interests in the region, particularly the United States," The Washington Post said.
India's military, it noted, is helping in Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia.
Earlier this month, the paper said, the USS Bonhomme Richard, a Navy helicopter carrier, was steaming towards Sri Lanka to augment US forces helping survivors of the December 26 tsunami when it suddenly changed course for Indonesia. Additional US troops were no longer needed in Sri Lanka because the Indian military had been dispatched to help.
Over the last three weeks, the paper noted, India has deployed 14 ships, nearly 1,000 military personnel and several dozen helicopters and airplanes to its devastated island neighbour.
"There was a spontaneous desire on the part of India to help," India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Nirupama Rao, said.
Moreover, she said, "we had the resources and capability to effect that kind of response."
Although India still accepts some foreign aid, said The Post, such help is declining in importance with the country's rapid economic growth.
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