Israeli chief of army staff on three-day visit to India

Jerusalem: Israeli army chief of staff Lt Gen Gabi Ashkenazi has begun a three-day visit to India in the course of which he also interacts with the defence and security chiefs of the country apart from providing further impetus to burgeoning bilateral defence ties. It will also be the first such visit by an Israeli chief of staff since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

Chief of Indian Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor and Chief of the General Staff, Lt Gen Gabi Ashkenazi

"The visit to India is part of the process of strengthening the ties between Israel and India and the nations' militaries," the Israeli army said in a statement.

The visit comes just a month after Indian army chief general Deepak Kapoor visited Israel.

Israel has already displaced Russia to become India's leading supplier of arms and munitions. The bulk of supplies constitute about 50 per cent of Israel's defence exports and about 30 per cent of India's imports.

Gen Ashkenazi will meet Gen Kapoor and the chiefs of Indian Navy and Air Force during his trip, apart from national security adviser MK Narayanan. Lt Gen Ashkenazi also meets the army commander of the Indian Army's southern command apart from combat command officers.

Lt Gen Gabi Ashkenazi will receive a ceremonial salute from an honour guard at the South Block, the headquarters of the Indian military in New Delhi.