News Analysis India

Tag: military exercise

  • India, Sri Lanka to conduct 12-day military drill with focus on counter-terror cooperation 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India and Sri Lanka will carry out a 12-day mega military exercise from Monday with a focus on enhancing counter-terror cooperation.

    The eighth edition of the ‘Mitra Shakti’ exercise will be conducted at Combat Training School in Sri Lanka’s Ampara from October 4 to 15, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.

    “The aim of the exercise is to promote close relations between armies of both countries and enhance inter-operability and sharing best practices in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations,” it said.

    The ministry said an all arms contingent of 120 personnel of the Indian Army will participate in the exercise along with a battalion-strength contingent of the Sri Lankan Army.

    “The exercise will involve tactical level operations at sub-unit level in an international counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment,” it said in a statement.

    The ministry said that the exercise will go a long way in further strengthening the relationship between both the South Asian nations and will act as a catalyst in bringing synergy and cooperation at the grassroot level between both armies.

    Sri Lanka was rocked by a series of deadly bomb blasts in April 2019 in which over 300 people were killed.

    In the backdrop of the blasts, India and Sri Lanka enhanced their anti-terror cooperation.

    The seventh edition of the Mitra Shakti exercise was conducted at Foreign Training Node (FTN) in Pune in 2019.

  • 15th Indo-Nepal joint military exercise begins on September 20

    By PTI

    PITHORAGARH: The 15th edition of Indo-Nepal joint military exercise “Surya Kiran” will begin here on September 20.

    “Infantry battalions from both countries will participate in the exercise,” said Capt Kuldeep, the liaison officer from the Indian side.

    According to the officer, besides familiarising with weapons being used by each army, the armies will be sharing with each other mountain warfare tactics, disaster assistance, rescue and relief operations in mountainous terrains.

    The armies will learn each other’s experience on human assistance methods, jungle warfare high altitude warfare and disaster relief methods.

    “The exercise includes special 48 hours of gruelling exercise to validate counter insurgency operations in mountainous terrains,” said the Army officer.

    The exercise is part of the initiative to develop inter-operability and sharing experience between two armies.

    The exercise will improve bilateral relationship between two armies and will be a major step to strengthen friendly relations between countries, he said.

    The last “Surya Kiran” exercise was held in Nepal in 2019.