By IANS
New Delhi : Global terrorism and UN peacekeeping missions featured prominently during talks here Monday between the Indian Army chief, Gen. Deepak Kapoor, and his visiting Turkish counterpart Gen. Mehmet Ilker Basbug.
“Both the chiefs shared a common platform on matters such as global terrorism and UN peacekeeping missions,” a defence ministry statement said.
“Both countries have pledged to improve military bilateral relations in terms of training at defence institutions,” the statement added.
This is the first time a Turkish army chief is visiting India.
Earlier Monday, Basbug laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial to the Unknown Soldier at India Gate. He was then accorded a guard of honour on his arrival at the defence ministry headquarters at South Block.
After his talks with Kapoor, Basbug met Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major.
The visiting chief also visited the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the National Defence College.
India’s interaction with Turkey in the defence sector was revived in March 1986 when the then Turkish prime minister visited India. The following year, the defence attaché’s office was re-opened in Ankara after a gap of 20 years.
Subsequently, India participated in IDEA, a defence exhibition at Ankara in May 1989. The Indian minister of state for defence visited Turkey in September 1993 at the invitation of the Turkish defence minister to attend the International Defence Industry and Civil Aviation Fair, “which was a big step towards establishing close relations in the defence field between the
two countries”, the statement said.
Trade between India and Turkey has increased by over 300 percent in the last five years from $800 million to $2.6 billion.
There is potential for significant growth with a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries at advanced stage of negotiations. With Turkey also poised to be part of the European Union and signatory to the uniform customs union, “there is potential for growth in new segments such as energy, construction, iron and steel, mining, gems and jewellery and IT, among others”, the statement added.