Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 4

Continuing with their annual joint exercise in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment, which, over the years, has added substantial experience to the rank and file of both the Indian and French Armies, a contingent of the French Army personnel will arrive in Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan for a joint training exercise to be held this month.

Exercise Shakti-2016 reflects the vibrancy of the continued Indo-France strategic partnership.

Shakti-2016 is the third edition in the series of bilateral exercises under this banner. The joint exercise would focus on counterterrorism operations in the backdrop of semi-urban terrain under the United Nations mandate.

To achieve inter-operability in joint real life operations in future, troops from French (I) Motorised Brigade and Indian Army’s Infantry Unit will strive to acquaint themselves with the arms and equipment, command and control system and operational tactics of each other.

The joint training will also focus on high degree of physical fitness, tactical drills, techniques and procedure.

A comprehensive training programme for a period of two weeks has been worked out for achieving the objective.

During the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of missions from joint planning, cordon and search operations, search and rescue, joint tactical drills and basics of special arms skills.

The exercise will be conducted at Mahajan Field Firing Range and on its completion, the personnel of the two Armies will strive to learn from each other on terrorist solutions.

The exercise will be conducted in two phases, namely combat conducting and tactical training and validation exercise.

The size and scope of this combined exercise is unparalleled and it will be characterised by regular, realistic, academic and natural exchange.

The broadened and unprecedented scope of the exercise stands as a testament to the well-netted people-to-people and military-to-military ties between France and India.