By IANS,
New Delhi : India Friday assured Kyrgyzstan of its support in strengthening its defence and security apparatus.
The assurance was given by Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony to his Kyrgyzstan counterpart, Major Gen. Abidilla Kudaberdiev, who called on him here during an official visit here.
“The matter came up at a meeting between the Indian defence minister and his Kyrgyzstan counterpart here today (Friday),” a defence ministry release said.
The two sides discussed the enhancement of training and other exchanges between the armed forces of both countries and also possibilities of military technical cooperation, including in defence research and development.
“Cooperation in training for UN peacekeeping operations was specifically discussed. The two leaders also discussed various global and regional security issues,” the release said.
The Kyrgyzstan defence minister conveyed condolences for the loss of life in the terrorist attack in Delhi Wednesday. He noted that there is need for all the countries to unify forces to fight terrorism jointly.
The visiting minister was accompanied by a three-member delegation, while the Indian side included Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma, Defence Research and Development Organisation chief V.K Saraswat, and Indian Army vice chief Lt. Gen. A.S. Lamba.
The Kyrgyztan defence minister, who is on a three-day reciprocal visit to India, visited the Khadakvasla-based National Defence Academy and other defence institutions in Pune Thursday. Antony had visited Kyrgyzstan in July.