Army Chief Gen Naravane speaks to counterparts from Australia, Bangladesh

New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on Wednesday held separate telephonic talks with his counterparts from Australia and Banglesh on ways to furr expand bilateral defence cooperation.

Army said Gen Naravane's conversation with Chief of Australian Army Lt Gen Richard M Burr was focused on bilateral defence cooperation.

talks came nearly a month after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Australian counterpart Peter Dutton h held a telephonic conversation on boosting bilateral defence cooperation.

During an online summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison in June last year, India and Australia elevated ir ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and signed a landmark deal for reciprocal access to military bases for logistics support.

"General MM Naravane, #COAS h telephonic interaction with General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff, Banglesh Army and discussed aspects of bilateral #Defence cooperation," Army tweeted.

talks came a day after Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhauria concluded a two-day visit to Banglesh.

re has been a flurry of visits between two sides in last six months twithstanding coronavirus pandemic.

year 2021 marks 50th anniversary of liberation of Banglesh and birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark 50th anniversary of 1971 war that led to liberation of Banglesh.

Around 93,000 Pakistani troops h surrendered before joint forces of Indian Army and "Mukti Bahini" on December 16, 1971, that paved way for birth of Banglesh. PTI MPB TIR TIR