Indian Army chief of staff, Gen Deepak Kapoor, visits Israel

Indian Army chief of general staff Gen Deepak Kapoor arrived in Israel on Saturday for talks with Israeli Army chief of general staff, Lt Gen Gabi Ashkenazi. Gen Deepak Kapoor makes the four day visit on the invitation of Lt Gen Ashkenazi.

The general was welcomed in a festive ceremony at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.

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Photo: Indian chief of staff, Gen Deepak Kapoor with IDF chief of the general staff, Lt Gen Gabi Ashkenaz

sraeli sources said the visit is intended to deepen security cooperation between Israel and India, including mutual updates regarding strategic issues. IDF spokesmen said Kapoor was invited as part of an effort to strengthen the military cooperation between Israel and India, with an emphasis on Middle East issues.

Apart from Gen Ashkenazi, Gen Deepak Kapoor is expected to hold meetings with other senior officials in the defence ministry and the Israeli Defence Forces, including deputy chief of general staff, Maj Gen Benny Gantz.

Gen Kapoor is also expected to tour the IDF Southern Command.

Gen. Kapoor will attend a special ceremony in the Yad Vashem memorial, where he will lay flowers in memory of Holocaust victims.