Ping!!!
Israeli general on a low-key visit to bolster ties
Israeli general on a low-key visit to bolster ties
RAJAT PANDIT
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2005 11:49:35
NEW DELHI: Israel has emerged as the second largest military hardware and software supplier to India after Russia but the defence establishment here still goes blue in the face to play down the "special" strategic relationship with the Jewish state.
In the latest such incident, chief of staff of the Israeli ground forces command, Brig-General A Mizrahi, arrived in the Capital on Wednesday to further bolster sharing of military intelligence, equipment, joint training and exercises.
Though both South Block and Army headquarters were tight-lipped about Mizrahi's "hush-hush" visit, it's yet another indicator that the switch-over from the Vajpayee regime to the Manmohan Singh one has not affected the burgeoning military ties with Israel.
Sources said the Israeli officer would meet Army chief General J J Singh, vice-chief Lt-Gen B S Thakur and the two deputy chiefs during the visit.
India also briefed the visiting Israeli delegation on its "security perspective", including the counter-insurgency situation in Kashmir, during the discussions on Wednesday. Israel, in turn, explained the "challenges" it faces in its "volatile" neighbourhood.
According a well informed source, "The first-ever joint military exercise between the special forces of the two countries is also on course to increase 'interoperability"'.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1023139.cms