Naval ships INS Deepak and INS Tabar visit Kuwait

NEW DELHI: Indian Naval ships INS Deepak and INS Tabar entered Kuwait today as part of a month-long deployment in the Gulf to enhance bilateral ties and engage in naval exercises with friendly regional navies.

Indian Naval ships - Deepak, Delhi, Tabar and Trishul - from the Western Command have been deployed in the region.

Of the four ships, INS Deepak and INS Tabar entered Kuwait today and would remain there till September 16, during which the warships will have professional interactions for enhancing co-operation and sharing the nuances of naval operations including disaster management and combating maritime threats of terrorism and piracy, an official release said here today.

Apart from professional interactions, sports and social engagements are also planned, which are aimed at enhancing co-operation and understanding between the Navies, it said.

The Indian Navy has close and friendly ties with all navies in the Gulf and has been regularly exercising with many of them.

India and Kuwait have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations, the release said adding the growing defence cooperation between the two countries is evident by the increased high level military visits, cross training of naval officers and port visits by naval ships.

Besides, India and Kuwait are also members of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a voluntary and co-operative 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.

The current visit seeks to underscore India's peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries in the Gulf and strengthen the existing bonds of friendship between India and Kuwait, the release said.

The Indian Navy is also privileged to provide training and hydrographic support to several navies in the region.

The involvement of Indian Naval ships in combating piracy off the coast of Somalia since October 2008 has further strengthened bilateral ties and interaction with navies in the region, the release added.