Over 12,000 foreign defence personnel trained by India: Manohar Parrikar

NEW DELHI: India has trained 12,479 defence personnel from 65 nations, including China, Afghanistan and North Korea since 2012.

The number of personnel being trained has also increased in the same period.

As per the figures given in a written reply by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in Lok Sabha, India trained 3,711 defence personnel of foreign countries in 2012-2013.

This figure jumped to 3,897 in 2013-14. The projected figures till June 30 for 2014-2015 is 4,871, the Minister said.

He added that a total of 65 friendly foreign countries have attended training in India during last three years.

Ri Su Yong, Foreign Minister of North Korea, which has close military ties with Pakistan, had visited India earlier this month.

He was the first ever Foreign Minister from his country to visit India.