Star News Agency
Muscat (Oman). Taking their defence cooperation a step higher, India and Oman Oman counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi at Muscat West Asia . Speaking at the meeting, he said maritime security is one of the issues that are causing concern to countries around the world. Shri Antony said, after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, issues of maritime security have emerged as a major aspect of India Gulf of Aden . Piracy off the coast of Somalia
Giving details of the measures taken by New Delhi , Shri Antony said, to protect Indian flag ships and Indian citizens employed in sea- faring duties, Indian Navy had commenced anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden from October 2008. A total of 16 Indian navy ships have been deployed in the Gulf of Aden since. In addition to escorting Indian flag ships, ships of other flags have also been escorted. ‘ We are cooperating with other navies deployed in this area by way of information sharing and have been participating in the Shared Awareness and De-Cofliction (SHADE) Meetings since April 2009’, he said.
The two sides also discussed a number of issues- bilateral and regional. Referring to Afghanistan , Shri Antony said, ‘ we have a common aim in Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan Kabul
Shri Antony expressed satisfaction at the existing defence cooperation between the two countries which is characterised by high level visit exchanges, training, regular bilateral exercises between the two navies and ship visits. In this connection, he recalled the first ever air exercise ‘Eastern Bridge Oman pilots have attended the Jaguar Simulator training in India
Shri Antony invited his counterpart to attend Aero-India in February 2011.
The delegation of Shri Antony included the defence secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar, Indian Ambassador to Oman Shri Anil Wadhwa, CISC Air Marshal SC Mukul, DGMF Lt Gen Dalip Bhardwaj, Air Marshal A Raha and Rear Admiral LVS Babu.
Shri Antony also called on the Sultan of Oman who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the Prime Minister of the country, Qaboos bin Said bin Thaimour Al Said.
Last evening, shortly after his arrival in Muscat Oman India and Oman India will expand its cooperation with Oman
Answering a query from the audience, Shri Antony said the desire of the Indian Army to induct 124 more MBT Arjun in its armoury was its own after the comparative trials. He expressed happiness that after many years MBT has become a reality and said ‘it has come of age’. DGMF Lt Gen Dalip Bhardwaj, who was also at the reception, endorsed the views of Shri Antony.
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