Vivek Raghuvanshi
NEW DELHI — India and Oman signed pacts to upgrade their defense ties during Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's May 20-22 visit to the gulf nation, which was the first country India established defense ties with in the 1970s.
The countries agreed to work together on boosting defense, crime prevention at sea, maritime issues and a flight safety information exchange.
A Ministry of Defense (MoD) official said the two countries will explore the possibility of India exporting weapons to Oman, which could also include setting up defense production facilities there.
Parrikar was accompanied by a high-powered delegation of military planners and officials, including Ashok Gupta, secretary (defence production); Dr. S. Christopher, secretary, director general of the Defence Research and Development Organization; Lt. Gen. MMS Rai, vice chief of Army Staff; Vice Adm. Sunil Lanba, Western Naval Command; and Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, vice chief of Air Staff.
Seldom has such a big delegation been part of a defense minister's visit overseas, the MoD official said, which he said indicates the level of defense cooperation India and Oman are hoping to achieve.
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