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India, US to discuss counter-insurgency operations

India and the United States, for the first time, would hold an intensive dialogue on their experiences in use of air power in counter-insurgency operations during the upcoming visit of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy to America.

While the US air force officials will brief New Delhi on the conduct of highly successful air operations in the on going operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, the Indian delegation would brief the US on air operations being carried out in Ladakh and other areas of Jammu and Kashmir, defence ministry sources said.

Krishnaswamy will be in the US on a 10-day visit from Saturday. The highlight of the air chief's visit would be talks on another joint exercise to be held later this year in Alaska.

Krishnaswamy, who is visiting the US at the invitation of US Air Force Chief Gen John P Jumper, would be visiting a number of key air bases including Wright-Peterson base at Ohio, Andrews base at Washington, Hurlburt base at Florida, Air Force Special Operations command and the Pacific Air Force Command at Honolulu.

Krishnaswamy, the first high-ranking Indian Defence official to visit Washington after the US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's tour to New Delhi, is also slated to visit the American Air Force Aerospace Operations and Command Centre.

The air chief's visit to the command centre assumes significance in the backdrop of New Delhi's move to constitute its own command to take charge of nuclear and missile arsenal.

During his visit Krishnaswamy would hold talks with senior US military brass, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard B Myers, Admiral Thomas B Fargo, Commander in Chief of US Pacific Command and senior Pentagon officials.

PTI

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