Regarding China's heightened presence in the Indian Ocean, Admiral Kumar assured that the Indian Navy was closely monitoring activities within the region.
"Our ships, submarines, and aircraft have sustained a high operational tempo - undertaking missions and tasks encompassing military, diplomatic, constabulary and benign roles," PTI quoted Admiral Kumar as saying.
"Our units were deployed across the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, to protect and promote our national interests," he further said.
READ | 'Govt Putting All-Out Efforts To Ensure Their Return': Navy Chief On Ex-Navy Personnel On Death Row In Qatar
Highlighting the Navy's readiness and adaptability, the Navy chief called it a "combat-ready, credible, cohesive, and future-proof" force.
"The Navy's sheer footprint of deployments has been satisfying as its ships have been persistently present across the Indo Pacific," he further said.
Underlining the Navy's dedication to inclusivity, Admiral Kumar said the overall strength of women Agniveers was now over the 1,000 mark. "These statistics stands testament to our philosophy of 'all roles, all ranks' approach to deployment of women in the service," he said.
Navy Chief Gives Update On Ex-Navy Personnel On Death Row In Qatar
Admiral R Hari Kumar said all-out efforts were being made by the government to ensure the return of eight former Indian Navy personnel awarded death penalty on espionage charges in Qatar.
"We are working closely to ensure that their interests are looked after," Admiral Kumar said. "The government of India is putting all-out efforts to ensure they are brought back," PTI quoted the Navy chief as saying.
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