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US Secretary, Defence Secretary mourns the demise of Gen. Rawat
Washington: After the saddening death of India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash, many including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin mourned on his demise.
The US Secretary Of State Mr Blinken expressed his condolence and said, "My deep condolences on the deaths of Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Rawat, his wife and colleagues who perished in today's tragic accident."
Mr Blinken also added, "We'll remember Gen. Rawat as an exceptional leader who served his country and contributed to the US-India defence relationship."
The US Defence Secretary, Mr Lloyd Austin, is also in the red after hearing the heart-wrenching news coming from India. Mr Austin said, "General Rawat left an indelible mark on the course of the US-India defence partnership and was at the centre of the Indian Armed Forces' transformation into a more jointly integrated warfighting organisation".
The US Defence Secretary Austin expressed his experience with the Late Gen. Rawat and recalled it as his privilege of meeting with him earlier this year and viewed him as a valued partner and friend of the United States.
He also said, "I and the Department extend our deepest condolences to the Rawat family, the Indian military, and the people of India after the tragic passing of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash." Austin also added, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rawat family and the families of the other victims of the crash. We are deeply saddened by this loss."
US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum said that it is deeply saddened by the tragic demise of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others in the helicopter crash this afternoon.
"Our thoughts go out to the families of the brave souls lost today. We mourn with the nation at the loss of these patriots," USISPDF said.
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