India rejects report of diversion of munitions to Ukraine, says it’s mischievous

A report by Reuters said artillery shells by several Indian state-owned firms and sold to countries such as Italy and the Czech Republic had been diverted to Ukraine

Published on: Sep 19, 2024, 22:27:22 IST

By Rezaul H Laskar

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NEW DELHI: India on Thursday rejected as “speculative and misleading” a media report about the diversion of defence exports, especially artillery shells, to Ukraine and defended its compliance with international obligations for the export of military items.

General view of the aftermath of a large series of explosion on an ammunition depot in Toropets, Russia on Sept 18. (Maxar Technologies via AP)

A report by Reuters said artillery shells produced by several state-owned firms and sold to European countries such as Italy and the Czech Republic had been diverted to Ukraine for more than a year. This had also resulted in protests from Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, the report said.

“We have seen the Reuters report. It is speculative and misleading. It implies violations by India, where none exist and, hence, is inaccurate and mischievous,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

India, he said, has an “impeccable track record of compliance with international obligations on the export of military and dual-use items”.

Jaiswal added: “India has been carrying out its defence exports taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation and based on its own robust legal and regulatory framework, which includes a holistic assessment of relevant criteria, including end user obligations and certifications.”

This is not the first time the external affairs ministry has responded to reports about the possible supply of artillery shells to Ukraine. It had earlier dismissed such reports after images emerged on social media of shells that were purportedly made by Indian state-run firms.

India has not publicly criticised the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which continues to account for close to 60% of the weaponry and military equipment of the Indian armed forces. The Indian side has urged Russia and Ukraine to return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy, while emphasising that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield and that talks cannot succeed under the shadow of the gun.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rezaul H Laskar
Rezaul Hasan Laskar is Foreign Editor with the Hindustan Times, which he joined in 2015. He began as a journalist in his hometown of Shillong in northeast India and has worked in newspapers and wire services over the years. He moved to New Delhi in 1997 and initially focused on defence, national security, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, while also working of foreign policy and international relations. He has been part of the media delegation accompanying PMs on foreign visits and has reported from destinations ranging from Tibet to Ukraine. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Press Trust of India correspondent in Pakistan, one of only two Indian journalists allowed to report from the country. He extensively covered Pakistan’s domestic politics and the life of the common people, as well as the fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on India-Pakistan relations and the subsequent trial in Pakistan of the suspects involved in the attack. As part of his reportage in Pakistan, he travelled the breadth of the country, from the Swat Valley to Balochistan. Reza’s first gig in journalism was writing a weekly music column, and music – especially classic rock – remains a keen interest. He is also a movie buff and a keen photographer.Read More

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