Article Posted on : - Dec 29, 2011

Indian Defence Minister AK Antony with Minister for Defence Affairs, Sultanate of Oman, Badar bin Saud bin Harib after signing an MoU for military cooperation in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: PTI.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Defence Minister A K Antony and his Omani counterpart on Wednesday signed an agreement to extend bilateral military co-operation for another five years in view of growing piracy incidents inside their maritime borders.

The two countries have extended the validity of existing bilateral Understanding on military cooperation, which was signed in December 2005, for a further period of five years, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said here.

The documents were signed by Defence Minister Antony and his visiting Omani counterpart Badar bin Saud bin Harib al Busaidi.

During the delegation-level talks, both sides noted that bilateral defence cooperation activities have been progressing satisfactorily.

Stating that the visit is an important step in continuing defence and security dialogues between the two countries, Antony noted that piracy incidents were taking place close to the Oman coast and have also been spreading close to the Lakshadweep Islands, the spokesperson said.

Both the Ministers stressed the need for continued and concerted efforts of the global community to effectively address the problem, he added.

The 5th meeting of the India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee was held recently in India in September, 2011.

The Indian delegation included Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma and Chief of Integrated Staff to the Chief of Staff Committee (CISC) Vice-Admiral Shekhar Sinha.

Meanwhile, Indian and Omani Navies are conducting a five- day joint exercise codenamed 'Naseem Al Bahr' off the Mumbai coast, which will end on December 31.

The IAF and the Royal Air Force of Oman also held a joint -exercise named 'Eastern Bridge' at Jamnagar in Gujarat in October this year.