In an indication of a thaw in bilateral relations, India and China will resume bilateral joint anti-terror exercise 'Hand in Hand' in December this year in China. The annual drill did not take place last year due to 70-day stand-off between the two armies in Doklam in Sikkim sector. The impasse ended following intervention at the highest political and diplomatic levels.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army also conducted a tour of more than 100 defence attaches of various countries to Leh to familiarise them with the operating environment in tough conditions. This exposure to friendly countries about Indian armed forces in various operational areas takes place every two years with the last such event in Jodhpur.
The India-China exercise, a confidence building measure between the two neighbours who share a 4,200km long disputed boundary, will be held in Chengdu province of China, officials said here on Wednesday. More than 100 troops from each side will carry out anti-terrorism drills in urban and rural scenarios during the 'Hand in Hand' exercise lasting about a fortnight.
The annual event takes place alternately in India and China and it was schedule to hold exercise in 2017. However, the face-off in Doklam after the Indian army objected to the Chinese constructing a road in the strategically important region led to calling off the drill. The last joint exercise was held in Pune in 2016 and it was the sixth annual bilateral exchange. The first such exercise was held in Kunming, China in 2007.
With ties improving with the eastern neighbor, a Chinese army delegation also took part in yoga programme with Indian troops in Ladakh earlier this year on the occasion of International Yoga Day.
Moreover, then Eastern Command chief Lt General Abhay Krishna also led a high level delegation to China in August to interact with his counterparts. These interactions came about after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping decided to resume bilateral military ties. This decision was taken during the meeting of the two leaders in Wuhan, China in April this year.
As regards the ongoing three-day visit of foreign attaches to Leh starting Monday, officials said despite cold climatic conditions, the tour evoked positive response from the attaches who were with their spouses. Diplomats from countries including US, France, Australia, Russia, South Korea, South Africa, Nigeria, Singapore and Hungary besides others were part of the entourage. They were familiarised with the working of field formations located around Leh.
On the upcoming joint exercises with some countries, officials said elite Special Forces of India and US will practice anti-terrorism tactics with latest weapons next month in drill named Vajra Prahar in India. Similarly, the three Services will have a joint exercise INDRA with their Russian counterparts in December. This will be the second such exercise where the combined three services of two countries will participate. Earlier, each service used to have separate drills. India and Japan will also have a joint army exercise.