PTI

Singapore, June 4: India on Saturday offered to help safeguard the strategic Malacca Strait and backed a major East-Asian security initiative to enforce "compulsory pilotage" of the channel against pirates and maritime terror.
Outlining New Delhi's support to the initiative mooted jointly by Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India was willing to assist in the project and share its expertise in maritime security with nations of the region.

"India welcomes the three nation initiative on monitoring shipping through compulsory pilotage project of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia," Mukherjee said in his speech at the Shangri La dialgoue here.

"Subject to the desire of the littoral states, as a major user-state, India would be willing to assist the project to whatever capacity is deemed suitable" the Defence Minister told eminent security experts gathered here for the 5th international Asia Security Summit.

With more than 50 per cent of India's maritime trade passing through the channel, security of the straits is important for India.

The Malacca Strait is one of the world's most important and busy waterways with 50,000 ships passing through it each year.