Article Posted on : - Sep 11, 2013

An unrelated photo of INS Ranjit. Photo: Indian Navy

DUBAI (PTI): Two Indian naval ships are on a goodwill visit to Kuwait in an effort to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation with the Gulf nation.

The visiting ships - INS Mysore and INS Tarkash - form part of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet under the Western Naval Command in Mumbai.

The group is headed by Rear Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, who is flying his flag INS Mysore. He will be accompanied by Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Indian embassy in Kuwait said.

The visiting officers will be calling on the senior dignitaries and officials of Kuwait's Ministry of Defence.

Both the countries have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations. Cooperation between the two covers a broad spectrum including trade, investment, human resources, culture and arts, science and technology and defence.

Indian Navy shares close and friendly ties with all navies in the Gulf and has indulged in exercises with many of them.

It has been providing training and hydro-graphic support to several navies in the region.

Defence cooperation between the two countries covers high level military visits, training and port visits by naval ships.

India and Kuwait are also members of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, a voluntary and cooperative initiative between 35 countries of the Indian Ocean Region, which has served as an ideal forum for sharing of information and cooperation on maritime issues.

INS Mysore is an indigenously designed destroyer built by the Mazagaon Dock Limited, Mumbai and embodies the very cutting edge of technology.

INS Tarkash, the second of the Teg class frigates, is among the very latest in the inventory of the Indian Navy.

The visit is scheduled to end on September 13.