|
Indian army chief set to head to Russia
NEW DELHI - Indias army chief of staff heads Sunday to Russia to reaffirm Indias continuing long-term strategic partnership with its old ally despite fast expanding defence ties with the United States. General Joginder Jaswant Singh will hold talks with senior military officials, including the Chief of the General Staff of the Defence Ministry, and visit several military bases during his week-long visit, the Press Trust of India said Saturday.Officials say the trip is part of customary military-diplomatic ties between the two nations which used to be on the same side of the fence during the Cold War, the agency said. Moscow remains Indias biggest arms supplier despite New Delhis rapidly warming relationship with Washington. But the visit has assumed added significance amid reports Russia is concerned that India is increasingly looking to other countries such as Israel, its second-largest arms supplier, the United States and France for defence goods. Singh will be pressing for strong guarantees from Russia on maintenance of delivery schedules of contracted weapon systems, uninterrupted supply of spares and product support, issues that have become sources of concern in recent years. The Indian Army still had over 80 per cent Soviet or Russian origin arms in its arsenal, the Press Trust of India said. Posted by: Steve White 2006-08-20 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=163475 |