source armyrecognition.com
8 Sep 2011 By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI DefenseNews
NEW DELHI - With an eye on China's growing military strength, India is improving defense ties with Mongolia, and Indian Army Chief Gen. Vijay Kumar Singh will visit his Mongolian counterpart Sept. 6-8. The visit comes a week before planned joint land exercises.
"New Delhi wants to have better ties with the Chinese neighbor with an on eye on containing China," said Mahindra Singh, retired Indian Army major general.
Indian and Mongolian troops will hold joint exercises in Mongolia Sept. 15-29, said an Indian Defence Ministry official. Last year, Mongolian troops held joint exercises on Indian soil.
India and Mongolia also established a joint working group this year to plan details of defense cooperation, including holding regular joint exercises.
The two countries have also held counterinsurgency exercises at India's Counter-Insurgency Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte, Mizoram. And in July, Indian President Pratibha Patil visited Mongolia and signed an agreement with her counterpart, Tsakhia Elbegdorj, to expand defense cooperation.
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