Article Posted on : - May 25, 2011

British Army Chief General Sir Peter Wall.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Aiming to enhance bilateral defence ties between India and the United Kingdom, British Army Chief Gen Peter Wall visited India and interacted with Defence Minister A K Antony and the service chiefs recently.

During his five-day visit, General Wall visited defence establishments in Delhi, Kolkata and North-East and discussed strategic challenges, opportunities to strengthen operational ties, cooperation in defence technology and on-going operations in Afghanistan and Libya.

He also visited the Eastern Command Headquarters and other areas during his visit to Kolkata and North-East, said a British High Commission release Tuesday.

The last six months have seen visits to India by three of the UK's Defence Ministerial team, including the Secretary of State for Defence, Liam Fox, in last November.

Gen Wall's visit follows those by the Chiefs of the Royal Air Force in November and of the Royal Navy in January.

The statement said, "The visit is a further indication that Indo-British defence ties are on a sharp upward trajectory.

This is in line with ambition of Prime Ministers David Cameron and Manmohan Singh to see bilateral defence and security relationship as a central pillar of a new enhanced partnership between India and the UK."

Gen Wall also visited the military cemetery and the battle site at Kohima and paid his respects to the British and Indian servicemen who lost their lives during Second World War.