Pune/New Delhi: India
and China on Monday began their joint "Hand-in-Hand" army exercise
focusing on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism tactics, weeks
after a stand-off between their troops along the border in Ladakh
region.
"Hand-in-Hand" is an
exercise aimed at exploring useful experiences, advancing pragmatic
cooperation and promoting a friendly environment between the two armies
and is being held in Pune. The first
such annual exercise was held at Kunming in China in December 2007 while
the second was held at Belgaum in December 2008.
However,
there was a gap of five years till an exercise was held in China's
Chengdu area last year in which a group of 160 personnel from Indian
Army's 16 Sikh Light Infantry had participated.
The
Chinese contingent from the 13 Group Army, Chengdu Military Region
comprising one infantry company along with supporting staff, landed at
the Lohegaon airfield in Pune in two IL-76 aircraft directly from China
yesterday.
The 12-day schedule is
focused on training on crossing of obstacles, special heliborne
operations, firing of various weapons, handling and neutralisation of
improvised explosive devices and conduct of cordon and search operations
in insurgency and terrorism environment.
An opening ceremony was held at the parade ground in Aundh Military Camp.
It
was attended by Lt General Bobby Mathews, Corps Commander of the Indian
Army, and Lt General Shi Xiangyuan, Deputy Commander of Chengdu
Military Command of the People's Liberation Army, besides many senior
army officials of the both nations. The parade was commanded by Lt Colonel Tian Jeiwen, Commanding Officer of People's Liberation Army contingent.
Both
the senior military officers addressed the contingents before Lt
General Shi declared the joint exercise open, an army statement said.
