By IANS,
New Delhi : The commander of the UAE naval forces, Rear Admiral Ahmed Mohammed Al Sabab Al-Tenaiji, Wednesday arrived in Mumbai on the second leg of his four-day India visit, a senior official here said.
“In Mumbai, the commander will visit the Western Naval Command headquarters and the Mazagaon Dockyard, where the Scorpene submarines are under construction,” the official added.
Al-Tenaiji, who graduated from the Pakistan Naval Academy in 1978, began his India visit Tuesday. On the same day, he had met Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and discussed issues ranging from terrorism through the sea route and the spike in piracy in the Gulf of Aden, which has affected the global trade by sea. The Indian Navy has permanently deployed a warship in the region.
Al-Tenaiji’s visit has gained significance in the aftermath of the Nov 26-29 Mumbai terror attacks. It is understood that India has used the opportunity to present the evidence gathered so far of the involvement of elements from Pakistan in the carnage and seek the support of UAE, one of Pakistan’s closest allies.
“In the light of the terrorists using the sea route to enter Mumbai, the issue becomes important for all the navies. And keeping in mind that the commander has graduated from the Pakistan Naval Academy, he will have necessary background to understand the situation,” the official pointed out.
Al-Tenaiji is a communications specialist and has qualified in watch keeping from the US, done a Missile Boat Surveillance Course from Europe, a Staff Course from Egypt and a War Course from the US.
His son, Sub-Lt. Khalifa Ahmed Muhammed Al Sabab Al-Tenaiji, is undergoing a Logistics Course with the Indian Navy in Mumbai.
India and UAE have established strong military-to-military ties after signing a defence cooperation agreement in July 2003 that provides for export and import of weapons, military training and coordination in security-related issues. The two countries also hope to cooperate in defence industry, scientific research, and humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, the official said.