Closeness to Pakistan, troublesome for Turkey; Acting defensively, India targets Turkish Shipyard

New Delhi, October 7: Knowing a matter partially, one tends to take decisions which would seem good for now but risky for future. Something similar has happened to Turkey after it sided Pakistan on Kashmir issue knowing the matter one side. Like always, taking a punitive action against an overseas defence company, for the first time, India would ban Turkish firm Anadolu Shipyard from doing defence-related business in the country.

Apparently, it has been noted that the Turkish company’s defence ties with Pakistan has been growing. In this growing ‘Dosti’ will be very futile for Turkey as the banning would impact the Indian Navy’s $2 billion fleet support ships program, for which state-owned Hindustan Shipyard Limited has chosen Anadolu Shipyard as its technology partner.

Speaking about the action taken, an Indian Ministry of Defence official said the punitive action would bar Anadolu from carrying out any business with Hindustan because such a partnership could have grave consequences for India’s security. India has not formalized defense cooperation with Turkey despite more than 70 years of diplomatic ties.

Last week, Anadolu launched the first of four anti-submarine corvettes for the Pakistan Navy, and the shipyard is expected to officially ink a partnership agreement with Hindustan under which would be built five fleet support ships for the Indian Navy. A senior Indian Navy officer said, “Involvement of Turkish defense company will include overseeing construction, detailed manufacturing, engineering, selecting equipment, quality assurance, etc. This would mean a permanent presence of Turkish people at HSL yard. That is a big security risk.”

India’s Navy will direct Hindustan to immediately end ties with Anadolu. Anadolu was selected by Hindustan in January to provide the design and other technical assistance for building five fleet support ships. Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea was not selected because it reportedly refused to guarantee the ships would-be built-in India. The 45,000-ton fleet support ships would carry armaments, stores and other essential equipment to support other warships in naval operations, and therefore the designer would possess sensitive details of what the ship would carry, another Indian Navy official said.