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Sputnik (2 August 2017)

General Rawat is accompanied by a high-level delegation and will be visiting important military installations. He is scheduled to meet a number of high ranking dignitaries of both Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, according to the Indian Army.

"During the visit to Kazakhstan from August 1 to 3, General Bipin Rawat will meet Defense Minister, Chairman of the National Security Committee, Vice Minister of Defense and Aerospace Industry along with Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces of Kazakhstan. The delegation will also visit elite Air Assault Brigade and National Defense University at Astana where he shall be inaugurating the Indian Military Art Room," Indian Army Spokesperson Col Aman Anand said in a statement on Tuesday.

After Kazakhstan, General Rawat will visit Turkmenistan and will become the first Indian Army chief to visit it.

"The visit to Turkmenistan from August 4 to 5 assumes importance as General Bipin Rawat is the first Chief of the Army Staff to visit the country. During the visit, General Bipin Rawat will be meeting Minister of Defense and Secretary, National Security Council, First Deputy Minister and Chief of General Staff along with Commanders of Land, Naval, Air Defense Forces of Turkmenistan. The delegation will also visit the prestigious Military Institute and Military Academy of Turkmenistan," Indian Army said in a statement.

The visit to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan is yet another outreach initiative by India to engage with its extended neighborhood and strengthen existing defense cooperation with the two important countries.