Army Chief General Manoj Pande in Uzbekistan for 4 days; Here's why
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New Delhi, April 15: With an aim to bolster the defence ties between the two armies, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Monday departed on a four-day visit to Uzbekistan to hold bilateral defence talks and also witness the 5th edition of India-Uzbekistan military exercise Dustlik 2024 at Termez district, which began on April 15.
The Army said that his visit would mark a significant step in bolstering the defence cooperation between India and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Upon his arrival in Uzbekistan, the Indian Army chief will hold dialogue with Defence Minister Lieutenant General Bakhodir Kurbanov, the First Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Khalmukhamedov Shukhrat Gayratjanovich, and the Deputy Minister and Chief of Air and Air Defence Forces Major General Burkhanov Ahmed Jamalovich.
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"These dialogues are pivotal in fostering stronger military cooperation. The itinerary also includes a visit to the Armed Forces Museum followed by a tour of the Hast Imam Ensemble, offering insights into the rich military history and achievements of Uzbekistan," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
General Manoj Pande #COAS proceeded on an official visit to #Uzbekistan🇺🇿 today. The visit aims at strengthening mutual understanding, exchanging views on aspects of common interest and strengthening bilateral defence cooperation between the two Nations.#IndianArmy… pic.twitter.com/HRAe4nSgEc
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) April 15, 2024
On the second day of his four-day visit, Gen Pande will pay homage to former Indian Prime Minister Late Lal Bahadur Shastri and visit the Victory Park, commemorating Uzbekistan's contributions and sacrifices in the Second World War. "The engagements on the day will encompass a visit to the Centre for Innovative Technologies LLC, where the COAS will get an insight into initiatives being undertaken by the Republic of Uzbekistan in defence technology and innovations," he said. Later in the day, Gen Pande will inaugurate the Information Technology lab at the Uzbekistan Armed Forces Academy, which has been established with India’s assistance.
On April 17, he will travel to Samarkand to meet the Commander of the Central Military District. His visit will culminate in Termez, on April 18, after witnessing the joint Exercise DUSTLIK, highlighting the interoperability and camaraderie developed between the two countries.
He will also visit the Termez Museum and the historical monuments of the Surkhandarya Region, beholding a first-hand account of Uzbekistan's glorious past and cultural landscapes," Col Chamoli said, adding, "The visit by General Manoj Pande aims at strengthening military cooperation between India and Uzbekistan besides exploring new avenues of collaboration between the two nations."