New Delhi: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Manoj Pande, began his five-day visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan, in a significant step towards the strengthening of defense cooperation between the two countries, a PIB press release stated.
The visit began on April 15, with meetings planned with the top defense leadership of Uzbekistan. These talks are expected to result in the expansion of military cooperation and the creation of new joint training opportunities.
During the visit, the COAS will also pay homage to the late Principal Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, of India, by laying a wreath at his monument. This will be followed by a visit to the Victory Park, which will commemorate Uzbekistan’s contributions and sacrifices in the Second World War. The itinerary also includes a tour of the Centre for Innovative Technologies LLC, which will provide insights into the defense technology and innovation projects being carried out by Uzbekistan.
The COAS will then travel to Samarkand on April 17, where it will meet with the Commander of the Central Military District. The visit will culminate in Termez, on April 18, where the COAS is scheduled to witness the Joint Exercise DUSTLINK between the armed forces of India and Uzbekistan. This event will highlight the interoperability and camaraderie that has been developed between the two countries. The COAS will also visit the Termez Museum and the historical monuments of the Surkhandarya Region, in order to obtain a firsthand account of Uzbekistan’s rich past and cultural landscapes.
The visit by General Manoj Pande aims to strengthen military cooperation between India and Uzbekistan, while also exploring new areas of collaboration between the two countries.
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