US Army chief to call on Gen Vij, Pak on agenda

US army Chief Gen Eric K. Shineski, who is scheduled to visit India for the first time in the first week of February, will seek deeper milit...

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US army Chief Gen Eric K. Shineski, who is scheduled to visit India for the first time in the first week of February, will seek deeper military-to-military cooperation with his Indian counterpart Gen N.C. Vij.

It is learnt that the Army headquarters will give a presentation on militancy in Kashmir and apprise Shineski of the weapons factories allegedly springing up in Pakistan to “aid terrorism”.

The Army headquarters is also planning a visit by Shineski to forward areas in Siachen and the Kashmir Valley.

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Gen Vij is also likely to discuss Pakistan’s missile programme and its relationship with North Korea on nuclear and missile proliferation issues. He would also seek better interaction with the Florida-based Central Command as India’s interests stretch from the Malacca Straits to the Persian Gulf.

‘‘While we are talking to the US Pacific Command, Pakistan, which is a major focus of Indian strategic interests, comes under the Central Command. But Shineski will be looking beyond this divide and we hope he would take a holistic view of our concerns,’’ said sources in the Army.