South African Army Chief Lt Gen Solly Zacharia Shoke, arrived in Kolkata on Wednesday after visiting the Indian Army's premier jungle warfare training school at Vairengte in Mizoram.

On his arrival at the Eastern Command headquarters in Fort William, Shoke was received by the GoC-in-C Lt Gen K S Jamwal, who briefed him on the security situation in the eastern theatre.

Shoke, on a visit to India from Septemer 9 to promote military cooperation and enhance relations between South Africa and India, earlier visited Srinagar [Images], an army release said.

India has a long association with South Africa. As military-to-military interaction is an integral part of international diplomacy, India has been actively engaging African states, the release said.

The Indian Army provides staff to training establishments in Botswana, Zambiam, Nigeria and Lesotho and has lately participated in UN missions in Angola, Congo, Ethiopia and Lebanon.

The Indian Army's involvement in Africa is a reflection of the country's commitment to promoting stability in Africa and the world, it said.