General Manoj Pande, who holds the position of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) in the Indian Army, has commenced an official visit to Tanzania, which is scheduled to take place from October 2nd to October 5th.
This visit serves as a reaffirmation of the enduring defense partnership that has existed between these two nations. According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, during this visit, General Pande will partake in a series of meetings and discussions with prominent Tanzanian officials and senior military officers.
The primary focus of these interactions will be to fortify the bilateral defense relationship between India and Tanzania. General Manoj Pande’s itinerary will include visits to key Tanzanian cities such as Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Arusha, where he will engage with a variety of Tanzanian officials. Notable figures on his agenda include Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, the Defence Minister, General Jacob John Mkunda, the Chief of Defence Force, and Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar.
Additionally, General Pande is scheduled to deliver an address at the National Defence College and hold discussions with Major General Wilbert Augustine Ibuge, who serves as the Commandant of the college, as well as its faculty members. Furthermore, a meeting is planned with Brigadier General Stephen Justice Mnkande, who holds the position of Commandant of the Command and Staff College in Duluti, as mentioned in the press release.
It’s worth noting that General Pande’s visit coincides with the 2nd India Tanzania Mini Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEFEXPO), which is being held in Dar-es-Salaam. This event provides a platform to showcase the expanding capabilities of India’s indigenous defense industry.
The roots of the bilateral defense cooperation between India and Tanzania can be traced back to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defense Cooperation in October 2003, as highlighted in the press release.