Gwalior: In a significant defence cooperation between India and the United States, Army Chief N C Vij will interact with its key Central Command, which is overseeing the Iraq as well as war in Afghanistan.

"The Army Chief General NC Vij, who travels to US soon on an official visit, would be interacting with the Central Command on topics of mutual interest," Colonel John Hill, a US embassy official in Delhi, said in Gwalior today (Feb 25, 2004).

He said during his visit Vij would be visiting the US Special Forces Command Centre. Indian Army has currently embarked upon a major Rs 700 crore plan to re-equip its special forces, which are being expanded.

Hill also said officials from Indian Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) had been formally interacting with the US Central Command based in Europe.

Indian armed forces currently interact with the US Pacific Command, which overlooks US interests in the Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific Rim.

New Delhi has been pressing Washington to accord it an observer status in the Central Command as it oversees US interests in key areas of Europe, Middle East, Persian Gulf, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan - areas of great interest to India.