March 9, 2003	Sunday	Muharram 5, 1424

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NEW DELHI, March 8: India and Iran will carry out their first ever joint naval exercises in the Arabian Sea to boost bilateral defence ties, an official said on Saturday.

Two Iranian warships, a fleet replenishment tanker and a logistics support ship for amphibious operations have arrived in Mumbai on a five-day goodwill visit, a spokesman for the Indian navy said.

“Towards the end of the visit on Monday, the two warships would carry out Joint Naval Manoeuvres and exercises with warships of Indian Western Naval fleet off the Mumbai coast,” the official said. The spokesman said the visit was an effort towards nurturing special bonds between the two navies.

He said the port call by the Iranian naval ships provided an opportunity for navy-to-navy interaction. It would also help foster mutual understanding at personal and professional levels, he added.

On the nature of the exercises, the spokesman said: “Warships from the two navies would carry out basic manoeuvres and exercises.”—AFP