Army Chief to visit Kazakhstan & Turkmenistan to deepen defence cooperation

New Delhi, Aug 1 :  Aiming to strengthen the existing defence cooperation, Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will be embarking on a six-day visit to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, starting today. "General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff will be visiting Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan from August 1-6, 2017 with high-level military delegation. During the visit, the General, along with delegation, will be visiting important military installations and is scheduled to meet a number of high ranking dignitaries of both the nations," the Indian Army said in a statement. He will stay in Kazakhstan till August 3, where he will meet Defence Minister, Chairman of the National Security Committee, Vice Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry alongwith Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces of Kazakhstan. The delegation will also visit elite Air Assault Brigade and National Defence University at Astana where he shall be inaugurating the Indian Military Art Room. The visit to Turkmenistan from August 4-5 assumes importance as General Rawat will be the first Chief of the Army Staff of Indian Army to visit the country. He will meet Minister of Defence and Secretary, National Security Council, First Deputy Minister & Chief of Gen Staff alongwith Commanders of Land, Naval, Air & Air Defence Forces of Turkmenistan. The delegation will also visit the prestigious Military Institute & Military Academy of Turkmenistan. UNI