Eye to gas reserve, Army chief on Uzbekistan visit

Eye to gas reserve, Army chief on Uzbekistan visit

India has stepped up interaction with Central Asian countries given its strategic location and a vast reservoir of gas. Army chief General VK Singh is now on a five-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as part of this endeavour. His visit, the first ever by an Indian Army chief to Uzbekistan, follows Defence Minister AK Antony’s visit to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan last month.

The Army chief, who left Delhi on Thursday, interacted with Lt Gen B Tashmatov, the Deputy Minister of Defence & Head of Joint Staff of Uzbekistan. He also visited the Tashkent Military School. Singh will visit the Samarkand province, where he is being hosted by the Governor of Samarkand, army officials said here on Friday.

These Central Asian countries have become strategically important and several countries including the US are working overtime to increase their presence in the region. Moreover, China and Pakistan are also showing keen interest in the region due to abundance of vast natural resources including gas which is needed for growing economies of China and India.

Sharing historical ties with Central Asian countries, the Indian defence and security establishment is also bolstering military-to-military and defence ties with several countries in the region. In fact, India also built an airport in Tajikistan to serve its strategic interests.

Moreover, India is holding joint exercises with the armed forces of Uzbekistan for the last several years. Besides, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has some key projects going in collaboration with the Krygyz there.