PTI, NEW DELHI — As part of new moves to bolster relations with the Central Asian countries, India and Kazakhstan are to explore possibilities of joint research and development of thermal torpedoes and other fields of naval armament.
The issue of close cooperation on development of advanced torpedoes came up during wide ranging discussions the Indian Defence Delegation led by Defence Minister George Fernandes had with his Kazakh counterparts.
Fernandes also held discussions with the Kazakh Prime Minister on stepping up strategic dialogue with the country including sharing of intelligence on terrorism and terrorist groups operating in the region.
Kazakhstan, after the breakup of erstwhile Soviet Union, inherited the torpedo development facilities, which are as advanced as the western technology in the field and New Delhi and Almaty agreed for joint research and development of torpedoes, a defense ministry spokesman here said.
In a related development, Fernandes who also visited the nearby Kyrgyzstan took up the issue of testing of torpedoes.
India, the spokesman said, had also offered military training, especially jungle warfare and information technology in the defense application, to Kazakhstan.
