A fortnight-long Indo-Nepal Battalion level Joint Military Exercise is being organised in Pithoragarh since March 7. This joint military exercise is being conducted under the aegis of Panchshul Brigade, Surya Command with the objective of increasing the inter-operability between the both Armies in the fields of counter insurgency operations in mountainous terrain.
As part of the training, a 48-hour outdoor validation exercise is being conducted from March 17-19 to cover various aspects of conduct of counter insurgency operations in mountainous terrain. Various drills such as establishment of a company operating base and its security, routine in a company operating base, road opening, mobile vehicle check post, convoy protection and quick reaction team have also been practiced. Both the Armies also carried out cordon and search operations in the mock village where helicopters were also employed for the movement of troops. The specialists troops of both the contingents also carried out house clearing, room intervention and hostage rescue under simulated conditions, utilising helicopters for insertion. The closing ceremony will be organised on March 20.
The validation exercise is being witnessed by major general Deepak Prasad Bharti, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Far Western Division and Brigadier General Padam Bahadur Angbo of the Nepalese Army and lieutenant General lalit Kumar Pandey, the General Officer Commanding, Uttar Bharat (UB) area along with brigadier Rakesh Kumar Manocha, the commander of the Pancshul Brigade of the Indian Army.
The dignitaries of Nepalese Army were reported to be appreciative of the professional conduct of the exercise. The expertise of the Indian Army was appreciated by the visitors and senior officers of both the Armies who also expressed their satisfaction at the level of jointmanship achieved. The joint exercise has a far reaching impact on the military ties between both Armies as well the relations between the nations of India and Nepal.