Article Posted on : - May 26, 2010

NEW DELHI (PTI): In the process of setting up joint services on the lines of India, a Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) delegation is paying a three-day visit to Port Blair this week.

“The aim of this visit is to understand the Indian tri-service setup at the Andaman and Nicobar Command and to take inputs as the Maldivian government is in the process of establishing a joint service on similar lines,” Navy officials said here.

The Andaman and Nicobar Command is the only operational tri-service command in India and has elements of Army, Navy and Air Force.

On arrival Tuesday, the six-member delegation led by Brigadier General Abdullah Shamaal, Director General International Defence Co-operation of MNDF, visited the Andaman and Nicobar Command headquarters and was given a detailed briefing about the formation and areas under it.

During the visit, the Maldivian delegation will hold discussions on various bilateral issues and exchange views on the Joint Command concept.

The Maldivian officers are also scheduled to visit all the four components of the Joint Andaman and Nicobar Command before departing on May 28.