Indian Navy stabilizing force in Indian Ocean region

INDIA: Indian Navy's Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee Sureesh Mehta has told an Asian security forum that Indian Navy is a significant stabilizing force in the Indian Ocean region in fighting piracy and terrorism, the local daily The Hindu reported on Sunday.

Speaking Saturday at the eighth annual Asian security summit held in Singapore under the auspices of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, Mehta said the Indian Navy "has been a trend-setter in the anti-piracy efforts off the Gulf of Aden."

He also said much "remains to be done to optimize the global efforts in that fragile region".

India's regional engagement was defined by "benign cooperation" with the larger international community and India would also continue to be driven by a "commitment" to India's neighbors and to the safety of its diaspora, said the top navy officer.

Enditem New Delhi, Monday, Xinhua