Indo-US military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas 2014' in progress

JAMMU: A fourteen day-long Indo-US military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas 2014' has begun in Uttarakhand to strengthen and broaden inter-operability and cooperation between the two Armies.

"The India-US Combined Military Training Exercise 'Yudh Abhyas 2014', commenced on September 17 at Ranikhet and Chaubattia, is in progress," PRO, Defence, Northern Command, said.

The exercise, which will terminate on September 30, brought together troops of a Mountain Brigade of Indian Army and Company and Brigade Headquarters of the US Army, he said.

It is the tenth exercise in the Yudh Abhyas series, which had started in 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership program.

The exercise strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between both the Armies and complements a number of other exchanges between the two forces, the PRO said.

Over the years, the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined training, he said.

He said the Yudh Abhyas 2014 has witnessed a Brigade Headquarters-based 'Command Post Exercise', an Infantry company carrying out 'Field Training Exercise', discussions on strategic issues of mutual concern by experts of both countries and combined training between detachments of Special Forces.