DM Monitoring
RIYADH: In a rare development, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has embarked upon a 4-day unprecedented visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates , the first of its kind in history, leaving defense observers raising their eyebrows and reaching Saudi Capital in the first leg.
Naravane will be India’s first army chief to visit Saudi Arabia. He will meet his Saudi counterpart in Riyadh, and address the Saudi National Defence College before heading to Abu Dhabi.
General Naravane is scheduled to hold talks with civil-military leadership in both of the countries.
Earlier in November, India and UAE agreed to explore ways to facilitate investments to strengthen economic ties between the two
nations. India has been fuming over a motion by the Islamic Cooperation Organisation, asking the Indian government to end the semi-autonomous status of the Kashmir region.
Agencies add: Gen MM Naravane reached the Gulf Region on Monday, the visit made in bid to deep military ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
His first stop is Saudi Arabia, where during his two-day visit he will be meeting his counterpart as well as other top military brass as well as other senior officers.
From there the Indian Army Chief will leave for the UAE on a two day visit.
As has been reported by Financial Express Online, the army chief in his first-ever visit to the Kingdom would address Saudi Arabia’s National Defence University too.
