Lt. Gen. Milan Naidu, vice chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, who completed a two-day official visit to Riyadh, said relations between the Saudi and Indian military are on the upswing.
“The visit was primarily aimed at fostering deeper understanding, developing mutual confidence and identifying fresh avenues of cooperation in the field of defense relations,” Col. R.S. Yadav, defense attaché of the Indian Embassy, told Arab News.
Gen. Naidu met Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation, Vice Adm. Prince Fahd ibn Abdullah, officiating chief of General Staff, Gen. Qubayel, commander of Land Forces, Prince Khaled ibn Bandar, deputy commander of Land Forces, Gen. Hameed Al-Touri, commander of Air Defense Forces, and Dr. Khalil Al-Khalili, chairman of the Committee on Security Affairs in the Majlis Al-Shoura.
Gen. Naidu also visited the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. “The visit was well received by both sides and is likely to result in increased interactions and better cooperation in the fields of training, technical assistance and military hardware,” Col. Yadav said.
A number of Saudi officers are currently attending training courses in India.
An Indian officer will also be coming to Saudi Arabia next year, Col. Yadav said, adding that Saudi officers have also attended military exercises in India as Observers.
Naidu’s visit follows similar visits to the Kingdom by Pranab Mukherjee, external affairs minister of India, and Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of Planning Commission. Likewise, Vice Adm. Prince Fahd ibn Abdullah, who is also commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, and Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal were part of Saudi delegations that visited India in February this year to attend a symposium on the Indian Ocean and a visit to a defense exhibition.
A series of high level regular bilateral visits, following the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to India in 2006, clearly signifies the desire of both nations to give new dimensions and meaning to the friendly ties
“The visit was primarily aimed at fostering deeper understanding, developing mutual confidence and identifying fresh avenues of cooperation in the field of defense relations,” Col. R.S. Yadav, defense attaché of the Indian Embassy, told Arab News.
Gen. Naidu met Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation, Vice Adm. Prince Fahd ibn Abdullah, officiating chief of General Staff, Gen. Qubayel, commander of Land Forces, Prince Khaled ibn Bandar, deputy commander of Land Forces, Gen. Hameed Al-Touri, commander of Air Defense Forces, and Dr. Khalil Al-Khalili, chairman of the Committee on Security Affairs in the Majlis Al-Shoura.
Gen. Naidu also visited the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. “The visit was well received by both sides and is likely to result in increased interactions and better cooperation in the fields of training, technical assistance and military hardware,” Col. Yadav said.
A number of Saudi officers are currently attending training courses in India.
An Indian officer will also be coming to Saudi Arabia next year, Col. Yadav said, adding that Saudi officers have also attended military exercises in India as Observers.
Naidu’s visit follows similar visits to the Kingdom by Pranab Mukherjee, external affairs minister of India, and Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of Planning Commission. Likewise, Vice Adm. Prince Fahd ibn Abdullah, who is also commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, and Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal were part of Saudi delegations that visited India in February this year to attend a symposium on the Indian Ocean and a visit to a defense exhibition.
A series of high level regular bilateral visits, following the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to India in 2006, clearly signifies the desire of both nations to give new dimensions and meaning to the friendly ties
