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US army chief visiting Kashmir today
JAVAID MALIK
Srinagar, Oct 16: The US Army Chief, General George W Casey, who arrived in New Delhi today, will visit Kashmir on Friday.
General Casey is scheduled to visit the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, sources said. They said Casey during his visit would inspect the last post of the Indian army on the glacier and also interact with the top army officials posted in Kashmir.
The US army chiefs Kashmir visit comes a month after the Israeli army chief, General Avi Mizrahi, visited the Valley and held hectic deliberations with top officials of the Indian army.
Siachen has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan since the mid 1980s when India sent its troops to the 72-km-long glacier ostensibly to pre-empt a Pakistani move to send Japanese trekkers to the snowy heights ranging from 18,000 to 22,000 feet.
However, after the dialogue process between India and Pakistan commenced in 2002, both the countries have been claiming that the issue would be resolved soon.
After his arrival in New Delhi today, the US army chief is understood to have held a long discussion with his Indian counterpart General Deepak Kapoor and two chiefs took stock of the prevailing regional security situation, especially the developments in Indias neighbourhood (Pakistan). The US army chief, according to the sources expressed concern over heightened tension on Pakistan-Afghan border.
Two chiefs reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual military-to-military cooperation, especially in the fields of exchange of military personnel for attending additional professional courses; cooperation and enhanced consultations in the field of doctrine development and raising the level of participation in joint military exercises, sources said, adding, The two chiefs also agreed to cooperate in exchange of military and related technologies for development of enhanced capabilities for the future combat soldier (a program of the Indian Army referred to as FINSAS Future Infantry Soldier as a System).
His visit is significant in the backdrop of India and United States signing the nuclear agreement, said an official, adding that the US was keen on improving ties with India in near future and the General Caseys visit was a step towards that.
The US army chief is also expected to hold talks with the top brass of the defence forces on ways to further enhance bilateral military relations between New Delhi and Washington. The General is expected to meet the defence minister, A K Antony, and discuss issues of mutual interest with him.
The US army chief will deliver a lecture on land power in 21st Century at the National Defence College in New Delhi and would also visit some military bases outside Delhi before concluding his stay in India on October 18.
JAVAID MALIK
Srinagar, Oct 16: The US Army Chief, General George W Casey, who arrived in New Delhi today, will visit Kashmir on Friday.
General Casey is scheduled to visit the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, sources said. They said Casey during his visit would inspect the last post of the Indian army on the glacier and also interact with the top army officials posted in Kashmir.
The US army chiefs Kashmir visit comes a month after the Israeli army chief, General Avi Mizrahi, visited the Valley and held hectic deliberations with top officials of the Indian army.
Siachen has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan since the mid 1980s when India sent its troops to the 72-km-long glacier ostensibly to pre-empt a Pakistani move to send Japanese trekkers to the snowy heights ranging from 18,000 to 22,000 feet.
However, after the dialogue process between India and Pakistan commenced in 2002, both the countries have been claiming that the issue would be resolved soon.
After his arrival in New Delhi today, the US army chief is understood to have held a long discussion with his Indian counterpart General Deepak Kapoor and two chiefs took stock of the prevailing regional security situation, especially the developments in Indias neighbourhood (Pakistan). The US army chief, according to the sources expressed concern over heightened tension on Pakistan-Afghan border.
Two chiefs reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual military-to-military cooperation, especially in the fields of exchange of military personnel for attending additional professional courses; cooperation and enhanced consultations in the field of doctrine development and raising the level of participation in joint military exercises, sources said, adding, The two chiefs also agreed to cooperate in exchange of military and related technologies for development of enhanced capabilities for the future combat soldier (a program of the Indian Army referred to as FINSAS Future Infantry Soldier as a System).
His visit is significant in the backdrop of India and United States signing the nuclear agreement, said an official, adding that the US was keen on improving ties with India in near future and the General Caseys visit was a step towards that.
The US army chief is also expected to hold talks with the top brass of the defence forces on ways to further enhance bilateral military relations between New Delhi and Washington. The General is expected to meet the defence minister, A K Antony, and discuss issues of mutual interest with him.
The US army chief will deliver a lecture on land power in 21st Century at the National Defence College in New Delhi and would also visit some military bases outside Delhi before concluding his stay in India on October 18.
