The Hindu : Front Page : Army unit in China for joint exercises

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 20, 2007
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Army unit in China for joint exercises

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Indian Army troops landed in China on Wednesday for their first-ever joint exercises with People’s Liberation Army troops.

A company-level strength of about 100 officers and men, drawn from the 15 Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry, took off from Guwahati to take part in “Hand-in-hand 2007” joint operations by troops from both sides in anti-terrorist operations in an urban setting, Additional Director-General (Public Information) in the Army Headquarters, Brigadier S. K. Chatterjee, told journalists. The objective is to “build and promote positive military relations, inter-operability and to undertake joint operations in a counter-insurgency/counter-terrorist environment for peace in the international arena.”

The exercises would take place in three phases with the grand finale of storming a terrorist hideout to take place after they have familiarised themselves with each other’s procedures and weapons.

While the infantry contingent from India had flown in aboard an Indian Air Force transport plane with their battalion weapons, China would supply tanks, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles as well as some heavier arms. In addition, the two armies would also try to understand each other’s procedures at the battalion headquarters level.

Phase One and Two of the exercise would see both sides displaying basic tactical skills such as their procedures for house-clearing (flushing out entrenched terrorists), going out on patrols together and basic exercises. This would prepare them for the “exercise proper” on Christmas Day when they would use each other’s weapons.

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