12-20-2007, 08:56 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>First India-China Army exercise against terror begins today </b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
The first-ever joint exercise between the armies of India and China, <b>starting on Thursday in Yunnan province of China, will see the troops carrying out extensive counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations in an urban setting.</b>
The nearly 100-strong contingent (nine officers and 86 jawans) of the battle-hardened 15 Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry arrived in Kunming, Yunnan province, across Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday, for the nine-day exercise named "Hand in Hand-2007."
The PLA will also field the same number of troops for the company-level exercise aimed at fostering closer military-to-military relations between the two countries.
The exercise comes a month before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Beijing. The two neighbours have disputed border of more than 4,000 kms (Line of Actual Control) and eleven rounds of talks have taken place between the two sides to resolve the complex issue.
However, the Line of Actual Control is peaceful for the last several years due to improving ties between India and China. The defence ties formalised in 1994 have seen the two countries sending officers to each other's prestigious military institutions for training and senior officers as observers for military exercises. Incidentally, the two navies had conducted a joint exercise off Shanghai three years ago.
<b>The drills will see the troops of two sides working as an enmeshed team to take on terrorists, rescue hostages and conduct patrols for reconnaissance, besides firing each other's weapons, sernior Army officer Brigadier SK Chatterjee told mediapersons in New Delhi on Wednesday.</b>
Elaborating upon the aims and objectives of the exercise to be conducted for the first time on the Chinese soil, he said, "<b>The aim of the exercise is building and promoting positive military relations and inter-operation abilities." </b>
The two sides would jointly practise cordon and search operations and tactics like how to enter a terrorist hideout and rescue hostages, he said, adding the logistical support will be provided by the Chinese army for the drill.
Given the backdrop of an urban setting for counter-terrorism exercise, the Chinese will also deploy helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for reconnaissance and collecting intelligence.
They are also expected to press into service three or four tanks and light artillery guns and mortars for simulating an attack on a terrorist hideout in a built-up area, Chatterjee said. The final day will see Director General of Infantry Lt General Rajinder Singh and ten other officers viewing the exercises as observers, he added.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
The first-ever joint exercise between the armies of India and China, <b>starting on Thursday in Yunnan province of China, will see the troops carrying out extensive counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations in an urban setting.</b>
The nearly 100-strong contingent (nine officers and 86 jawans) of the battle-hardened 15 Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry arrived in Kunming, Yunnan province, across Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday, for the nine-day exercise named "Hand in Hand-2007."
The PLA will also field the same number of troops for the company-level exercise aimed at fostering closer military-to-military relations between the two countries.
The exercise comes a month before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Beijing. The two neighbours have disputed border of more than 4,000 kms (Line of Actual Control) and eleven rounds of talks have taken place between the two sides to resolve the complex issue.
However, the Line of Actual Control is peaceful for the last several years due to improving ties between India and China. The defence ties formalised in 1994 have seen the two countries sending officers to each other's prestigious military institutions for training and senior officers as observers for military exercises. Incidentally, the two navies had conducted a joint exercise off Shanghai three years ago.
<b>The drills will see the troops of two sides working as an enmeshed team to take on terrorists, rescue hostages and conduct patrols for reconnaissance, besides firing each other's weapons, sernior Army officer Brigadier SK Chatterjee told mediapersons in New Delhi on Wednesday.</b>
Elaborating upon the aims and objectives of the exercise to be conducted for the first time on the Chinese soil, he said, "<b>The aim of the exercise is building and promoting positive military relations and inter-operation abilities." </b>
The two sides would jointly practise cordon and search operations and tactics like how to enter a terrorist hideout and rescue hostages, he said, adding the logistical support will be provided by the Chinese army for the drill.
Given the backdrop of an urban setting for counter-terrorism exercise, the Chinese will also deploy helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for reconnaissance and collecting intelligence.
They are also expected to press into service three or four tanks and light artillery guns and mortars for simulating an attack on a terrorist hideout in a built-up area, Chatterjee said. The final day will see Director General of Infantry Lt General Rajinder Singh and ten other officers viewing the exercises as observers, he added.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->