Yerevan, a city steeped in history and resilience, witnessed a moving moment on Monday as India’s top military officer, CDS General Anil Chauhan, honored the victims of the Armenian Genocide at its iconic memorial and museum. Arriving on a four-day official tour, General Chauhan’s wreath-laying ceremony paid solemn respects to the 1.5 million Armenians who perished over a century ago.
The site’s evocative architecture—from the circular plaza enclosing an eternal flame to the museum chronicling harrowing survivor accounts—embodies the profound themes of agony, endurance, and the pursuit of justice. According to a statement from the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters on X, this tribute highlights the timeless relevance of remembrance in preventing future horrors.
General Chauhan led the Indian defence delegation, greeted enthusiastically by Ambassador Neelakshi Saha Sinha and Major General Temur Shahnazaryan upon arrival on Sunday. The visit is poised to elevate India-Armenia defence ties, focusing on shared strategic goals and sustained security collaboration.
Adding momentum to these relations, India recently dispatched the inaugural batch of guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia. This follows a ₹2,000 crore contract inked in September 2022 for four Pinaka MBRL batteries, making Armenia the pioneering foreign buyer of DRDO’s indigenous system, which includes advanced guided capabilities.
Produced by Solar Defence and Aerospace in Pune, the Pinaka exemplifies India’s defence export ambitions. Initial unguided supplies wrapped up by end-2024, setting the stage for subsequent advanced deliveries. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the milestone as a testament to India’s defence sector’s evolution from dependency to global leadership.
In the broader context of regional tensions, this partnership underscores India’s role in promoting stability through technology transfer and joint initiatives. General Chauhan’s gesture at the memorial not only acknowledges shared human tragedies but also fortifies the foundation for multifaceted cooperation, blending historical sensitivity with forward-looking defence diplomacy.