Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing the India-Africa Army Chiefs Conclave in Pune in Maharashtra on March 28, stated that India is steadfast in its commitment to provide support in all defence-related matters to African partner countries, including capability enhancement of their armed forces, reports India Today. The conclave was organised on the sidelines of the 2nd Africa-India Joint Exercise ‘AFINDEX’. It was attended by Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande and chiefs and representatives of 31 African nations, along with other civil and defence dignitaries. Singh stated that the joint exercises between India and African nations provide an excellent opportunity for the Armed Forces to learn from each other and promote interoperability. He termed ‘AFINDEX’ a reflection of India’s continued focus on African nations to develop and enhance mutual capabilities. He asserted, “As maritime neighbours linked by the Indian Ocean, our cooperation in maritime security and hydrography and countering terrorism and extremism will be essential for regional peace and prosperity.” He said the training programmes cover a wide range of areas including counter-insurgency, maritime security and specialised training in new domains such as drone operations and cyber warfare. He invited the African countries to explore Indian defence equipment and technologies to fulfil their security needs.