New Delhi: British Army Chief General Sir Mike Jackson, who began a three-day official visit to India, today (Oct 18, 2004) said he plans to expand Defence cooperation between the two countries and intends to visit forward areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jackson, as a prelude to his visit to Kashmir, was given an hour-long briefing on 'India security perspective and situation in Jammu and Kashmir' in the war room after extensive one-to-one talks with his Indian counterpart Gen NC Vij.

"Britain looks forward to working out ways to increase the cooperation with Indian forces," Jackson said in a statement released by the British High Commission.

"India and Britain already cooperate in a number of areas, such as detection of improvised explosive devices (IED), disposal equipment of bombs and IED's, ground-based radars and military communication equipment," the statement said.

The British Chief of the General staff also held discussions with the Naval Chief Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Air Chief S Krishnaswamy and the Defence Secretary Ajai Vikram Singh.

During his visit, Jackson would visit India's premier Army Western command at Chandigarh, witness parachute exercises at Agra and Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said.