IAF chief holds talks with Japanese counterpart on boosting military cooperation

Chief of Japanese Air Force Gen Izutsu Shunji is in India to explore ways to furr deepen bilateral defence cooperation, a visit that comes three weeks after Malabar naval exercise comprising Qu member nations.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhauria on Thursday held wide-ranging talks with Gen Shunji, Chief of Staff of Japan Air Self Defence Force, focussing on furr enhancing cooperation and interoperability between two air forces, officials said.

Japanese military officer also called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and held separate meetings with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff miral Karambir Singh and Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen S K Saini.

"Ways to boost defence cooperation between two countries figured in meetings," said an official without elaborating. Last month, India hosted Malabar exercise. Following India's invitation, Australia also participated in exercise effectively making it a drill by all Qu member nations.

Qu, comprising India, US, Australia and Japan, is aimed at ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, a region that witnessed increasing Chinese military assertiveness in recent years.

India and Japan have regularly been discussing evolving situation in Indo-Pacific, and have signalled to expand cooperation to deal with common challenges.

defence ministry, in a statement, said Air Chief Marshal Bhauria and Gen Shunji recognised progress me in defence ties between India and Japan and discussed avenues to furr enhance it.

"y also discussed scope for enhancement of joint exercises and training between two air forces. A broer cooperation for strengning collective response to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief contingencies was also discussed," it said.

Gen Shunji, who arrived here on Wednesday, was also accorded a guard of hour at IAF hequarters. defence and strategic ties between India and Japan have been on an upswing in last few years.

In September, two countries inked a landmark agreement that allowed ir militaries to access each or's bases for logistics support. pact was signed in backdrop of growing concerns over China's military muscle flexing in region. In June, Indian Navy carried out a maritime exercise with Japanese navy as part of efforts to bolster military cooperation.

(Photo Credit: Twitter/IAF_MCC)