Army chief on key strategic trip to central Asia

Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat left for a tour of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on Tuesday to explore the possibility of India expanding its strategic footprint in central Asia.

The delegation led by Gen Rawat will visit Kazakhstan between August 1-3, during which he would meet the Defence Minister, Chairman of the National Security Committee, Vice Minister of Defence and Aerospace Industry and the Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces of Kazakhstan.

The delegation will also visit elite Air Assault Brigade and National Defence University at Astana where Gen Rawat will inaugurate the Indian Military Art Room.

Built in the last eight months, the Indian Military Art Room would be handed over to the NDU according to an agreement between the two countries.