Combined India-Nepal military exercise begins

PITHORAGARH: A combined military exercise between Indian and Nepalese armies commenced here today with a top army commander saying both the armies have to learn much from each other, especially in handling modern-day challenges of insurgency and terrorism.

Over 300 personnel, comprising one infantry battalion from each country, are taking part in the 7th edition of the exercise named Surya Kiran VII which begen as part of military cooperation between the two neighbours in 2011.

"The military cooperation between two countries has come a long way since 2011 as it has now risen to battalion level exercise after it began as platoon level exercise in 2011," said Lt Gen R N Nair, GoC Uttar Bharat area.

The focus of the exercise will be to enhance existing military relations and increase inter-operability between two armies especially in the field of disaster management, an Indian army spokesman said.

During the two-week-long exercise, the armies from both sides will upgrade their practical skills of jungle warfare, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrains and disaster management skills, including aviation aspects of it, the spokesman said.

"We have also included control of pandemic and epidemic diseases by army personnel during disaster time in the hilly region which is common to both the nations where calamities often occur," he said.

Senior officers from Nepalese and Indian armies are likely to participate in the exercise in coming days before it concludes on August 31, the spokesman said.