Indian jawans return after joint exercise with Chinese troops

NEW DELHI: Achieving greater pragmatic co- operation and better mutual understanding with their Chinese counterparts was some of the focus areas for a delegation of Indian Army personnel who have returned to the country upon the successful completion of a 10-day-long joint exercise, 'Hand-in-Hand', in China's Chengdu.

A group of 160 personnel from Indian Army's 16 Sikh Light Infantry and a similar number of members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army took part in the joint exercise, which had begun on November 4. The Indian delegation is now back in Guwahati.

"To enhance mutual understanding and trust, the contingents of the two armies were mixed and reorganised into two mixed companies. The joint training exercise on counter- terrorism was carried out in right earnest and was consistent with the aims of the exercise," an Army release said.

'Hand-in-Hand' was a counter-terrorist exercise with the aim of exploring useful experiences, advancing pragmatic co- operation and promoting a friendly environment between the two armies, it said.

Such an exercise between the two countries was carried out after a long gap of five years.

The first such exercise was held at Kunming in China in December 2007 while the second was held at Belgaum in December 2008.

The next edition is scheduled to be held in India next year.